Chasing Dreams with Aimee J.

You can't just be hustling all the time, you also need to take time to rest. We've been glorifying the hustle culture for far too long that taking a break seems unacceptable. In this episode, Aimee tackles a topic that we don't normally discuss - taking a break. For the longest time, we've been taught that hustling is the only way to achieve our dreams. We didn't realize that too much hustle leads to burnout and not becoming the best version of ourselves. There should be no shame in taking a break, it's also a form of self-care. You spark more creative juices if you realize that your true power lies in having a rest.  THE IMPORTANCE OF REST The hustle culture has been around for years but now we see a positive shift. People are more accepting of the thought that rest is needed if we want to function better. As Aimee mentioned, we're slowly learning that “hustling isn't always the answer.” This comes from a personal experience as Aimee also learned the value of having rest.  Rest helps bring your energy level back up. If you're consistently working without taking a break, it can be detrimental to your health. You might experience fatigue and burnout and this leads to not feeling motivated to go to work or do something you've always been passionate about. You need to understand that your energy depletes if you're too obsessed with work, and you need to restore this energy. Taking breaks helps you become more productive and stronger in the long run. TWEET "Hustling isn't always the answer." #chasingdream QUOTE "Rest helps bring your energy level back to come back stronger." WHAT WE NEED TO TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT REST We've been taught working long hours indicates the highest quality of work but we come to realize that this is not effective. It blocks productivity and drains creativity.  We need to teach the next generation that rest is a significant part of work, regardless of the industry you're in. Pulling all-nighters is not going to help all the time. It only teaches you to ineffectively manage your time.  The power is in the rest. If you're someone who takes pride in not having a vacation, you better evaluate what you're doing in life. Take a step back and figure out why you're not having a well-deserved break.  Even schools are now acknowledging the importance of taking breaks for the mental health of students. We talked about this in https://aimeej21.com/chasing-dreams/episode261/ (Episode 261).  It's the same thing for adults at work. They are at risk of experiencing burnout if they don't allow themselves to take a break. TWEET "The power is in the rest." #chasingdreams "You might do yourself more harm than good if you don't take a break." #chasingdreams  QUOTE "Teach the next generation not to work in long batches of time." "It's so important that we find some way to take rest."  "You can burn out at work if you don't allow breaks to be taken. CREATIVE BURNOUT - WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL Creative burnout is something that artists experience. We talk about taking a break but when you do take a rest, you also feel guilty for doing so. Creatives and even professionals may be in a constant struggle whether to take a break or not. If you feel confused, understand that taking a break is necessary. You may not realize that you're already in the burnout stage and keep on pushing through but one day you just don't want to do your work anymore. You may think that you're doing your best but in reality, you just continue with work and do not give 100% percent to it. In Aimee's case as a podcaster, she's been taught that consistency is key. They have to consistently publish new episodes since this signals podcasting success. But there's proof that creatives who took a break may lose listeners but they can also gain more.  Other shows take hiatus or a planned break, and they come back stronger. We need to get rid of following a

We're halfway through the year, it seems that days went by so fast. Some of us feel like not having enough time to process everything we're going through. Some days we feel okay, others not so much. But you have to remember, it's okay to not be okay.  In this episode, we have another inspiring discussion about it's okay to not be okay. Aimee shares that for the past couple of months, she's not feeling good. A lot of things happened, she lost some loved ones and this puts her in a space where she felt not okay. During these days, Aimee didn't feel like herself. She didn't feel motivated, excited, or happy to do the things that normally give her joy. These may be the result of creative burnout and unfortunate life events. Aimee shares her story and journey towards acceptance that there will be days that we don't feel okay, and we're allowed to experience and learn from this. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT NOT BEING OKAY Have you noticed that we don't talk about not being okay? It seems like a prohibited topic in our society. According to an https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/having-sex-wanting-intimacy/202202/5-reasons-people-don-t-talk-about-what-they-need-talk-about (article published by Psychology Today), there are various reasons why people are not encouraged to talk about what they need to express. No one wants to talk about the hardships in life. We fear that this may only cause stress to the listener and additional anxiety to ourselves. But we have to accept that some days are not roses and butterflies. We also have days when it's enough to survive and make it until the end of the day. The good thing is that millennials and Generation Xs are setting a good example that it's okay to talk about our bad days. This act inspires the younger generation to acknowledge and accept not feeling okay. They see this as the norm and might continue doing it for future generations.  TWEET "Some days, it's not roses. Some days it's just molasses." #chasingdreams IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY It's normal to not feel okay, to realize that not everything goes according to our plans. We all go through this phase and some may experience not being okay for the most part of the year. Some people may think that they are not allowed to not feel okay because other humans depend on them. The classic example of this is being a parent. Parents think that it's against the law to feel worried, out of place, confused, and so much more. because their kids look up to them. This brings up too much pressure to feel okay despite having a raging fire inside that signals they don't feel good. When parents do this, they build a notion that it's undesirable to not have everything handled. And children may carry this belief until adulthood. They may think that not being okay means there is something wrong with me.  What we stand for today impacts the future. Our goal is to bring more awareness to mental suffering so that the kids of tomorrow feel encouraged and supported with their struggles.  The suicide rates for young people (teens and young adults) are the highest according to the https://connect.uclahealth.org/2022/03/15/suicide-rate-highest-among-teens-and-young-adults/ (article from UCLA Health). This may involve various factors, but it's also related to not feeling okay and not having the courage or the willingness to talk about it.  We need to take the initiative to show people that it's completely fine to not feel good all the time. This way we normalize the conversation with our kids, friends, and family about mental health.  This also causes a ripple effect so when a certain member of our family is having mental health struggles, he/she knows that you can help.  TWEET "It's okay to not be okay." #chasing dreams QUOTE "We all go through a period where we're not okay. "Even the protectors need to be taken care of." THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH DAYS Wouldn't it be better if we have additional days...

For some, getting into the entertainment industry is like having that impossible dream that's never going to happen. And the perpetual question everybody's asking - how to make it in Hollywood? In this episode, Tim Tortora tells how he conquered Hollywood and made a living out of it. He shares some of the biggest lessons that only the industry can impart and why building a connection is the number one factor for success in this arena. WHAT DID YOUNG TIM WANT TO BE WHEN HE GREW UP? With both parents having their own businesses, it's somewhat expected for Tim to follow their path. But it was during a drive around studios that young Tim realized what he wanted to do in life.  Although the subtle implication was he was going to take over the family's business as he grows older, Tim vividly remembers telling his dad, “I don't want to do what you do, I want to work in Hollywood.” As an undergraduate, he had a job in a recording studio as a tape operator. He eventually had a degree in advertising, and he just never stopped pursuing his passion. Tim was always adamant about creating his own path and always wanted to do the things he was interested in. He thought that being a musician was for him and as he got close to realizing this dream, Tim saw that there were a lot of guys better than him. In his words, “they were more passionate than me, they played with soul.” He added, “I could play well, but I couldn't play with soul flawlessly.” Tim added that the guys who were good at playing music practiced for 6 hours a day. This was just not possible for him as he said, “there are a million other things I'd rather do in 6 hours than sit there and practice drums.” He had the presence of mind to realize that he had a lot of interests, and he needed to pursue them.  TWEETS "I'm not interested in your path, I want to go find my own." #chasingdreams "I had the presence of mind at a young age to realize that I had a lot of interests and I needed to pursue them." #chasingdreams QUOTES "I wanted to pursue what I thought was interesting and what I dreamed of doing which was being a musician."  "I just had the presence of mind knowing that I'm not going to be happy following my dad's or my mom's path.” "I could play well, but I couldn't play with soul flawlessly. THE VALUE OF HAVING PRESENCE OF MIND Since he spent most of his college career working in a recording studio, Tim saw firsthand band members who were broke, driving cars in bad conditions thus he was no stranger to the struggle. He thought to himself, “I don't want to be that guy, I don't want to be struggling for art.” His interesting journey of applying for work started when he sent out a cover letter with two typographical errors on it. Although he was not accepted because of this mistake, he corrected them and sent out another cover letter. Tim got a job in Columbia Pictures and worked for an ad agency, this is how his 35-year career (and counting) in movies started.  Upon dipping his toes in Hollywood waters, Tim knew that having the same presence of mind will help him figure out his next steps. He realized that staying in an advertising job may let him earn a lot of money, but it's definitely going to be miserable. He coined this situation as being in a “golden handcuff.” He adds, “it's a lot of money, it's great, but it's not something that's going to feed my soul.” Tim wanted to get closer to the actual creation of content. He quit his job and became a personal assistant for a television show.  Tim climbed up the ranks and eventually achieved his goal of being a production executive. He did this by the time he was 30 years old.  By having the presence of mind and following what he thought was best for him, Tim is living his best life with no regrets. He did the work as fast as he could at the highest level that he could and excelled in tasks that were given to him. TWEETS "Don't worry about the money you're making, who...

The time used to invest in yourself reflects on the quality of relationships you engage in.  In this episode, Carolyn Yates shares her expertise and advice for people struggling with their mental health. Our mental health condition is often affected by a lot of factors; the people around us, social media, and personal pressures but the best way to deal with this is to prioritize self-care. WHAT DID YOUNG CAROLYN WANT TO BE WHEN SHE GREW UP? Carolyn wasn't sure what she wanted to be when she grew up. But as a young kid, she's always been fascinated with how people think and behave. She explored a few different routes, but eventually, she became a psychology major in college.  Through this, her interest in the human personality further developed. Then she finished her grad school and became a therapist. Although her journey started out with not being sure about what to be when she becomes older, there was a specific interest she kept in her heart that lead her to who she is today. Carolyn's advice for people who are afraid of making a pivot in their lives, “be open-minded to different ideas.” When she graduated in 2008, she entered the workforce but unfortunately, the economy collapsed. Our situations may seem like adversity initially, but they can become a blessing in the end. Because of the economic crisis, she decided to go back to school and explored new ways of life. TWEETS “Be open-minded to different ideas.” #chasingdreams QUOTES "Things that feel like adversity in your path may ultimately be blessings in the long term." GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Most of us are raised to believe that we always have to put the needs of others first. This notion is deeply embedded in our culture that we think that by putting ourselves first, we are committing a crime.  This thinking made some of us resentful toward life. There's lingering guilt of not being able to do what we've always wanted to because we put others first. When Carolyn was asked if it's possible for us to take care of ourselves first, she answered, “it's about giving yourself the permission to take care of yourself.”  She adds, “to have a bit of time for yourself means you can show up in better ways.” There may be a lot of guilt involved in doing this, but this is actually not a bad thing.  Some people may label this as being selfish but Carolyn reframes this. She makes people understand that spending time on yourself is always a worthy investment.  When you prioritize yourself, you also get to evaluate how you are towards others and how you treat yourself. It allows you to be more patient and present.  TWEETS "Take time for yourself." #chasingdreams  QUOTES “To have a little bit of time for yourself means you can show up in better ways.” WAYS TO PERFORM SELF-CARE Your self-care methods don't have to be grand and expensive. When people think of self-care, they equate it with going on splendid vacations, spas, or shopping. These can be forms of self-care, but they can also be meditating, going for a walk, enjoying nature, journaling, exercising, or nourishing your body with a healthy meal. https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729 (Self-care) can be the simple things you do that give you joy, help you calm down, and re-center. It doesn't have to break the bank. It's not always a one-size-fits-all, so you have to explore what self-care methods work for you. As you engage in self-care, you see the world from a different perspective. You become more in tune with your thoughts, and emotions and begin to understand what it is that you need. You learn that you can be capable of achieving things if you nurture yourself first. TWEETS "Take some time to go outside, there's something about it that's calming and soothing." #chasingdreams QUOTES “Self-care is a way to manage stress.” WHY YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH The

Mental health is not something we openly talk about and yet it greatly impacts how we live our lives. A lot of us perceive mental health as an essential topic we should be talking about. However, we all know that it's difficult to take action when we suffer from mental health issues. In this episode, in celebration of Mental Health Awareness month, Aimee tackles a topic close to her heart and something she supports fully - mental health. Through this episode, Aimee shares how she handles mental stress and recommendations for people undergoing the same experience. It's not easy to discuss mental health struggles, but Aimee believes that how we handle it in the present times influences the next generation. When we normalize these conversations, we also create safe spaces where people can freely talk and look for help regarding their conditions.  THE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH We may not recognize it, but there is a rising need to talk about mental health. As Aimee stated, “we millennials should understand what we're doing and how we treat mental health is impacting the generation next.” This is the right time for us to take a stand and find the help that we need. However, with this thought, it's also important to recognize that finding help is a challenge in itself. Aimee adds, “what we need to do most importantly is acknowledge that we need help for mental health.” TWEET "What we're doing and how we treat mental health is impacting the generation next." #chasingdreams "What we need to do most importantly is acknowledge that we need help for mental health." #chasingdreams QUOTE "Finding help is also a challenge and one that is also being worked on." THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING TO A THERAPIST Aimee is a big advocate of talking to therapists, in fact, Aimee shares that she has a wonderful therapist. “She understands what I'm going through.” Her advice for people with mental health struggles is, “find the right therapist for you.” Being able to find someone who understands what you're going through is very helpful because you can easily relay your message. Once you find the right therapist, stick with it. This is not to say that you should see the therapist every week, figure out the number of sessions that you need.  Although going to a therapist has always been labeled as taboo, we should be breaking this stigma so more and more people are encouraged to find the help they need. Aimee says, “a therapist is a third party who doesn't necessarily have a vested interest in the decisions you make.” The best thing about having a therapist is that they root for you, they want what's best for you, but they allow you to make the choices. Therapists see you and what you're going through from a different perspective. They give valuable and reasonable advice that you can do to make changes in your life.  TWEET "Therapists want what's best for you, but they allow you to make that choice." #chasingdreams "A therapist is an outside, objective person who can give you feedback." #chasingdreams QUOTE "It's a normal thing to get help, to talk to someone that is not your family." "A therapist is a third party who doesn't necessarily have a vested interest in the decisions you make." PANDEMIC SIDE EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH The pandemic has had unfortunate side effects on people, especially on mental health. A lot of professionals from different industries were affected including medical frontliners, first responders, teachers, employees, and even business owners. Their mental health was affected because of the immense stress and pressure that was placed upon them. Some of them have been forced to do things that they're not comfortable doing. While some of them have risked and are continuously risking their lives for others. In the last few years, we have seen an increase in suicide and depression. Therefore, as a community, we should make sure that they are getting the help that they deserve and this...

We tend to think that life is hard, and it is but what we fail to realize is that we're capable of improving our lives, we have the power to pivot and deal with hard things. In this episode, Aimee explores something that she's always been afraid to do - speak to her listeners directly. She shares her thoughts and insights about various topics and this episode, it's about the hard things in life and why we should be empowered to handle them. Life is not always going to be a smooth ride, there will be bumps ahead but when you choose to look at it positively, you're bound to enjoy and appreciate it more. THE DANGERS OF COMPARISONITIS We've all heard the term midlife crisis, society expects us to undergo a dilemma as we enter a certain age. But for Aimee, it's better to call it “comparisonitis.” We live through the dangers of constantly comparing our lives with others, but this can be cured with time and good practice.  Comparisonitis normally happens when we don't feel secure with our lives or when we're not happy with what's going on. It's easy to succumb to this phenomenon if we consistently engage in social media and compare other's “perfect” life with ours. What makes this worse is being surrounded by people who are judging you of where you are in life, this pressure leads us to believe that we are failing but in reality, everyone goes through hard things, but it's not always broadcasted on social media. We have to take realize that we can do something about it.  WHY OUR LIVES ARE BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA We have to realize that we can do something about comparisonitis. This begins with the acknowledgment that what we see on social media has been perfectly curated, it's not always a 100% accurate depiction of other's real life. All we see is the end result, we don't see the struggles and work they put in to get to where they are. You also have to kick the notion that you are failing just because your life is different from others.  You have to accept that life is full of hard things, you may think that you're a failure because you don't have it easy, but that's just how life is. Moreover, you are here because you can do hard things.  You need to have your own success scale, so you're not measuring success through the scale of others. What other people think of as success may not be what you deem as success. Figure out what you want and what you need in life to categorize your success scale. Life is hard, but you're here, don't waste your time comparing your life to others. Think about what makes you feel successful and do it. TWEET "You have to kick the notion that you are failing at life." #chasingdreams "You can do hard things." #chasingdreams  "Don't use someone else's scale to measure your success, you have to come up with that scale." #chasingdreams "It is hard to be here, but you did it." #chasingdreams  QUOTE "Just because something is difficult or hard doesn't mean you're failing at life." "You are here because you can do hard things." "What other people deem success may not be what you deem success." "Don't judge your life based on someone else's scale and criteria." LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION We have to keep in mind that life is a journey, it's not a destination or a goal. Aimee has said this a couple of times, but it sure is worth repeating, “it's all about the dream chase not the dream end goal and result.   The ups and downs that we experience stay with us, they become core memories that eventually help us navigate life. We often look for shortcuts, but the problem with this is we miss out on the growth from working to get to our dreams.  Just like in the butterfly analogy, butterflies have to go through the tough time of developing their wings while in the cocoon. This struggle helps them become strong and prepares them to take off. The same can be said for us humans, the difficulties we go through prepares us to course through...

Tap into yourself, figure out who you really are, and embrace that.  In this episode, Sylvia and Drew Nixon, share the value of knowing who you really are and walking in your purpose. Life can get too noisy that we often miss the very thing that we would like to do, but we are given the opportunity to recognize our strength and learn the process of chasing our dreams.  WHAT YOUNG DREW AND SYLVIA WANTED TO BE It's always an interesting question when someone asks us what our dreams are when we were younger. Some of us may have varying dreams like Drew or one specific dream that will stay all throughout like Sylvia. Young Sylvia always knew she wanted to be an actress or a talk show host. She was even considered to be most likely to have a talk show like Oprah in her senior yearbook. Life eventually took a different turn for Sylvia but deep in her heart, she still has that dream.  While for Drew, he was (on his own terms) “all over the place but not indecisive” when it comes to his dreams. He's done a lot of different things thus his background is so colorful. Although he's always believed that he can do anything, Sylvia has taught him how to hone a specific skill and know who he really is. It helped build his knowledge and his character.  Now, Drew tells their daughter Chloe that he appreciates every single thing he ventured out when he was younger because it gave him the back-end knowledge and strategies in situations that demanded it. DREW & SYLVIA'S JOURNEY TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW When Sylvia was 19 years old she moved to New Jersey in the hopes that her dream of becoming an actress or a talk show host will come to pass. She's always had the confidence that when she shows up, everything will change.  There wasn't a single negative thought in Sylvia's mind during that time. She didn't think that it was a very competitive world where it was difficult to get in. Sylvia knew that her dream was very natural for her and she just showed up. All she was thinking was that somebody was going to sign her up for projects. But as Sylvia mentioned, “it didn't happen that way.” She came from a small town went to a big city with big dreams and big goals. It sure was a chasing dream moment, but Sylvia added, “it was a chasing dream moment without structure and planning.” This grandiose event in her life served as an eye-opener. Sylvia realized that she didn't have to give up on her dreams, she just needed to go in a different direction. She started learning the ropes of the corporate sector and came back to Florida. Although not everything happened according to how she wanted it to be, it brought her acceptance that “without that dream coming to pass, it doesn't mean that it's not going to happen.” While Drew looks at life from a faith-based standpoint. For him, every encounter he had with life happened for a reason. He uses the turbulence analogy whenever we go through a crisis. Drew states that “turbulence is a constant reminder that there's a movement happening and that there's a destination you're going to get to.” He embraces all the turbulence that he experiences and believes in the power of pivoting.  Sylvia equates turbulence to new beginnings in our lives. The best example is when someone starts with a new job, she advises, “give yourself the grace to learn and to go through the process.” A pivot is a learning curve and we don't always learn instantly, there has to be a process. We go through different seasons in our lives and when we know that a big change is imminent, we have to give ourselves time to comprehend the whole process.  The process may feel uncomfortable but it's necessary. Don't be scared of the change because it allows you to go to a destination where you can cruise and roll with everything that comes your way.  We've become so acquainted with movies or societal expectations that we're led to believe that change is easy but in reality, it's not. We...

We always believe that we have time to do things. We focus too much on the future that we forget to enjoy the present.  In this episode, Aimee shares a personal experience with loss, grief, and the learnings she got from losing two people close to her heart. It is during the dark moments in our lives we realize that life shouldn't be taken for granted, and we need to make the most of it. THE PERSONAL EFFECTS OF WORLD-CHANGING EVENTS A few months ago, a friend of Aimee's passed away suddenly. This event threw her off, not even sure how, when, or what is happening. Then, another family member has passed around two and a half weeks ago.  These personal and out-of-the-body experiences have brought her to a point of reflection. It felt weird because as she was getting updates from a family member fighting for her life in the hospital, everybody else was going about their normal, daily routines. With these situations, Aimee had a taste of reality that our lives can end instantly, and yet we still manage to take a lot of things for granted. She didn't see these events coming, and her life has made a 180 degrees turn.  But the thing is, we humans don't dwell on the idea of death so when it happens, we and our family members are taken aback. This devastating event can be disastrous to our families, but we need to start thinking about how to make the most of our lives and not take things for granted.  TAKING FOR GRANTED THAT THERE IS A NEXT TIME During the eulogy for their beloved family member, Aimee's sister mentioned a compelling statement, “We mistakenly thought we had all the time in the world. We took for granted that there would be a next time.” Hearing this at a time when you just lost someone dear to you hits hard. We always think that we'll always have time for the things that we're putting off. You may know someone so dedicated to working and yet has no plans of enjoying the fruits of his labor until retirement. Instead of looking for a job that satisfies our soul, we stick to one that's just okay because we believe that we have time for that in the future. Our mindset is always at having time to do the things we want in the future and not at this moment, at the present.  As cliché as it may sound, we really don't know what tomorrow will bring that's why we need to enjoy our lives now. We'll never know if we're going to be as healthy as we are now than tomorrow.  Don't wait until you're old and regretful to try new things, to take the vacation you've been wanting, or to live the kind of life you've always wanted to live. TWEET “We don't know what tomorrow will bring.” #chasingdreams "If there's a trip you want to take, do it now when you can enjoy it." #chasingdreams QUOTE “We mistakenly thought we had all the time in the world. We took for granted that there would be a next time.” “We think that there will be a time for the things that we're putting off.” “I'm not saying it's easy, but I'm saying it's possible.” AIMEE'S TIPS FOR DREAM CHASERS With the sudden death of two loved ones, Aimee has had deep reflections that can help prepare for this distressing event. She gives a couple of tips to dream chasers. The first one is having a will. This is one way of giving your family peace at the time of a sudden demise. Depending on the state you're in, there will be different rules and regulations on how a will is constructed. Also, find a lawyer that's going to make the will legally binding and update it from time to time. You may meet different people or be under different circumstances and your will may need to be updated. This is a great recommendation, especially for people who have children since their last wishes have been defined. By having your will ready, you're preventing family members from the problem of going through a difficult process. Indeed, it makes life easier because everything is filled out, and they just have to carry out your wishes. The second piece...

Chasing our dreams will demand persistence to learn and explore various options and oftentimes, it will call for multi-passion experiences.  My good friend Daree Allen Nieves is back on Chasing Dreams. She was on episode 77 and now she's here to tell us about her multi-passions. Daree has been doing a wide variety of things in her life and she encourages people to do the same. She shares how it helped her relationships, perspectives, and life in general. ONE THING THAT CHANGED IN DAREE'S LIFE & SHE'S HAPPY ABOUT Looking back on the five years since Daree has graced the Chasing Dreams podcast, she's asked about one thing that has changed in her life that she has no complaints about. In a heartbeat, Daree answered, “I am allowing myself to do things or not do them and be okay with it.” She used to have a perfectionist mindset where everything she does should be excellent. Although this is perfectly okay, Daree realized that she's become so rigid and there's no more room for flexibility and enjoyment.  One of Daree's life examples is her podcasting journey. There was just too much pressure of releasing an episode. She needed to be committed to the hustle and prove to everybody else that she is indeed working hard.  Until she came to a point in her life where she became at peace in not being too hard on herself, that she's not going to beat herself up for not going through all the hassle to finish something. However, Daree's actions are not an indication that she's lost accountability. What she expresses is giving herself the freedom to loosen the chains of perfectionism and you don't have to bombard yourself with information and sensory overload. Daree added, “just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you necessarily should.” You don't have to keep up with everybody else. This means that you need to evaluate what you need to prioritize and focus on it. QUOTES “Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you necessarily should. You don't have to do all the things.” THE OUTCOMES OF THE HUSTLE CULTURE Glorifying the hustle culture has affected people's mental health. We become so pressured about doing all things at once and doing them perfectly. People call themselves failures if they're not able to follow the same exact path that others used to reach success.  With the hustle culture, people wear themselves out to make sure they get everything accomplished. Others may say that an individual is not hustling because of having a day job. As Aimee stated, “my day job allows me to take care of my family, have insurance, and have these passions.” For someone who does a lot of things in her life, Daree declares that certain people in life will make you feel that “you're not a legit entrepreneur unless you do it full-time.” She recognizes all the struggles and challenges that full-time entrepreneurs go through to ensure their business is successful. But for her, it's important to go outside the business and learn new skills. She does this by broadening her horizons and committing to knowledge that can help her in future endeavors. WHY WE NEED TO BE MULTI-PASSIONATE In the two decades that Daree has stayed with her job, she wasn't just working. She also became busy learning new skills such as podcasting, voice-over, writing a book, getting certified as a life coach, speaking engagements, and lots of other things.  These skills became exceptional highlights when it came to looking for another job. It allowed her to showcase that she's not a one-trick pony; too skilled in only one area yet doesn't have anything else to offer. Daree acknowledges that it's fine to not have all these side hustles, if a person wants to continue with his ways of making money, it's perfectly okay.  What she advises us is that there is beauty in trying new things and deciding whether it's for you or not. If you're starting as an entrepreneur, the first advice you will get is “focus on one...

Can you believe that in this day and age of technological advancements and intense social awareness, there are still norms and stereotypes that don't serve us well? In this episode, Aimee shares with us why she didn't come back straight away. She did a lot of experimenting and along came her realizations about life. She was a victim of societal norms and stereotypes and through this episode, she hopes to create a difference and call for a challenge so that other people will not experience the same. BEING A VICTIM OF SOCIETAL NORMS & STEREOTYPES Aimee mentioned that she was a victim of societal norms and stereotypes, and she added that “a lot of us are, and we don't realize it until later on in life.” We may realize that we've always wanted to do something but are afraid that we'll disappoint other people or our parents. There are also instances where we don't want to do something but out of pressure, we engage in it. We are led to believe that we want something but if we look within, we want to do something else.  We have what we call unconscious push or nudging that we get from people surrounding us. These people can be our parents or family members who don't have bad intentions. They suggest paths that we should take out of their love and care. This unconscious nudging is a product of societal norms and stereotypes. Out of their good intentions, they think that a particular career or life path will make us happy. But the thing is, do they really know what will make us happy? Do we even know what will make us happy? THE STORY OF OORBEE ROY Oorbee Roy is a 47-year-old skateboarder who started skateboarding in her 40s. She's an Indian mom of two living in Toronto, Canada. Oorbee is a social media sensation known as Aunty Skates. The reason why she started skateboarding in her 40s was that it wasn't seen as an acceptable thing to do for an Indian girl or woman. By the time Oorbee turned 40, she developed the courage to brush aside what other people will think.  She's now creating a movement that shows people what happens when we start defying stereotypes. Oorbee is on various social media platforms encouraging people to follow their dreams.  What Oorbee is doing is inspiring people that there's no need to wait for the perfect time to pursue your passion. She wants us to save time and focus on the things that will make us happy and will give us a sense of purpose.  TWEET “We are where we are, it is what is, now, what do we do?”#chasingdreams “The if's will twist you up and prevent you from moving forward.”#chasingdreams QUOTE “The thing about societal norms and stereotypes is it's everywhere and in almost everything.” THE GLOBAL PRESSURE OF HAVING IT ALL TOGETHER BY 30 The world, media, and the pressure from people make us think that we should our lives together when we reach 30. It's like saying that we have to follow a rigid model of how we should live our lives. The typical scenario of we have to go to college, get a degree, get a job, get married and have kids. If you achieve all these things by the age of 30, you've hit a bonus point.  People make these as indicators of true success. But the plan stops there, what happens after you get married or have kids? This framework makes us believe that our lives stop the moment we acquire all this, and we're stuck in waiting time till death.  Around the early 1900s people think that this is the only formula for happiness, no one even bothers to ask what makes us happy. The sad reality is, we have accepted this norm and nobody dared to challenge it.  Aimee mentioned that she and her sisters have been getting pressured to get married by the age of 21. She added, “as I was young, I truly believe in arrange marriage system, it worked for my parents, my grandparents, and I've seen so many happy and healthy marriages from them.”   For Aimee, arrange marriage is like blind dating when you're ready to get...

Are you prepared to break through stereotypes and traditions to chase your dreams? We welcome the second season of Chasing Dreams with two guests who can give us a new perspective on how we pursue our goals. In this episode, I get to chat with the duo from JAM & Philly, James, and Philly Mathew. We're family, and I've seen the struggles, how they follow their passion, and their journey to becoming successful music artists and record label owners. YOUNG JAM & PHILLY  Growing up in a typical Indian household, Philly mentioned that his dream was to become a doctor or an engineer. He was so obsessed with building Lego robotics and programming that he thought he would eventually go into this career field in the future. While JAM is not sure whether he had a dream job or not, but one thing is certain, he always had a passion for making things and organizing people. He was a member of clubs. He and his friends made a treehouse together. JAM always knew that he loved gathering people around an idea.  Both of their parents have strong encouragement for the arts. They took the time to and made sure that JAM & Philly learned how to play the piano and their dad being a guitarist and singer also wanted his kids to do the same. In their younger years, the brothers developed their love for music and the bonus is they had supportive parents who always wanted them to appreciate the art.  JAM & PHILLY'S JOURNEY TOWARDS THEIR MUSIC CAREER JAM & Philly's journey in their music careers is not what we usually label as typical for South Asian families who have migrated to the United States. India may be filled with beautiful music and sounds but pursuing music as a professional career is not considered normal for migrant families. The reason why they were able to break these stereotypes is that their parents did what they had to do. They went to the United States and took the risk that they couldn't go back home. Although their parents never thought that JAM & Philly are serious about pursuing music as their career, they were still very supportive of it. Ever since they were kids, their parents paved the way, so they developed a passion for music, they gave them what they couldn't give to themselves.  Their love for music is not something that was recently developed, their parents opened doors, so they can learn and appreciate the art. JAM & Philly credit their parents for providing support and encouragement from the beginning. As they have heard, not all parents in their community are supportive of their kids' passion for music. PERSPECTIVE AND MINDSET We are often told that we can't do two things at a time, we need to prioritize one thing over the other, and we consider this true in our career fields. We can't be great at one thing if we don't give 100% focus on it. But Philly proves this otherwise, albeit being a college student, he knows to himself that he's giving 100% to their record label, music, and his studies. He mentions “I always say that I'm a full-time artist, record label manager-executive and also a full-time student. I don't like splitting the job. I think I'm doing it honestly, 100% of the time.” Even if he's not in class, Philly works on the label and the music. This comes from his personal perspective and mindset. He didn't have to sacrifice one over the other. He knew that he could commit to doing both. When JAM was in college, owning a music label or becoming a professional music artist was never in his future perspective until the viral video was published.  JAM knew that he was there because he was enjoying the impact of the work, but he didn't find the creativity and the passion. He felt that he was good enough, but it wasn't completely fulfilling.  HOW THE VIRAL VIDEO CHANGED THEIR LIVES When JAM was in college, he had the desire to run for student body president. He's always been engaged about diversity and inclusion on their campus, made a lot

After a few months off and hearing the asks, we're bringing Chasing Dreams back in 2022. Figured sharing the news on my birthday would be appropriate. Make sure you're subscribed so you can see when we return with Season 2! CONNECT WITH AIMEE https://aimeej21.com/ (Website)  https://yourpersonalhypeman.com/ (Your Personal Hype Man) Connect with Aimee on https://instagram.com/aimeej21 (Instagram) Subscribe to Aimee's https://youtube.com/aimeej21 (YouTube Channel) https://podcasterhq.net/ (Podcaster ) https: //youtu.be/sYI7jhJFHa0

We've reached the last episode of Chasing Dreams. 250 amazing episodes. 250 stories. So many lessons learned. When I started this podcast, I never imagined getting to 250 episodes. I thought 50 episodes would be good. Then I thought a hundred would be okay. But I was blessed with amazing guests, listeners, and a team to keep going.   Today, we reach the final episode of Chasing Dreams. In saying goodbye, I wanted to share with you this journey, how I got here, where I'm going and my fellow dream chasers and guests' top five pieces of advice.  ENDLESS GRATITUDE I definitely can't end this podcast without saying a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this journey possible.  Thank you to all the amazing guests who were so honest in sharing their stories. When I started this podcast, I probably had around 13 names on the list and they were all my friends. They were people who were doing something amazing with their life because they were happy for themselves. They were living their life fully.  But the podcast continuously grew and more and more amazing guests graciously joined me to share their journey and lessons they've learned along the way. They definitely inspired me and in each episode, I learned so much.  So to my guests, thank you so much. Thank you for sharing your time, your journey, your honesty and your difficult stories, and for sharing the lessons you learned along the way. And of course, this podcast would not have lasted this long without the listeners. I want to thank you guys for always tuning in, learning from our guests, and hopefully inspiring you to chase your own dreams.  I'd also like to thank my team. The support teams that I've had throughout the journey are amazing - Pro Podcast Solutions, Team Podcast, Carry Greene and Team, Leon Flitton and Your Podcast Concierge Team. Thank you so much for the audio editing, show notes, and everything you've done. You helped ease the workload and it allowed me to keep going.  Last but not least, I have to thank God for giving me the courage to do this. Thank You for giving me the courage to take that step to do something uncommon for Indians and women. He has blessed me in so many ways and I am eternally grateful.  MY PODCASTING JOURNEY How often do you come across people who are happy with what they're doing in their lives? Before I started this podcast, I knew a handful of these people. I also knew a lot of people who were miserable with their life and had no passion in what they were doing.  I started the Chasing Dreams Podcast in hopes of inspiring others to follow their dreams and keep the passion burning because life's too short to live otherwise. I wanted to speak with people who were truly happy in life. It didn't necessarily have to be because they were making a lot of money or because of their job title, but because they were doing something that made a difference and put a smile on their face.  I started with a list of 13 people who were my friends and family to guest on the podcast. It was a good number to start with. But then as I continued, there were some months that I ran low on guests to have on the show. I sometimes ran low on happy people to talk to. But by God's grace, I would always find someone to talk to and have on the show who was willing to share their story.  This podcast was such a blessing. It wasn't something that I was always confident about or knew where it was going. But I knew that I wanted to try. I knew I wanted to share this message with people and show others that there are a lot of people who are genuinely happy in life.  The podcast began on September 21, 2015 and here we are now on June 23, 2021 on our last episode. These few years were amazing and it did more than I thought it could.  The past 250 episodes of Chasing Dreams Podcast have taught me so much. I learned so much from each guest and have been inspired by their stories....

How can you better prepare yourself to chase your dreams?  As we enter the penultimate episode of Chasing Dreams, I try to make sure that I'm bringing you the best guests I can. In this episode, I get to chat with experienced licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Connecticut, Julie Hall - who also happens to be my cousin. I know her well and wasn't wrong with bringing her on the second to the last episode of the show to share her knowledge and expertise.  YOUNG JULIE As a young girl, Julie's dad was a mechanical engineer. He would do a lot of drawing which inspired her to become an architect. But life happened and her path changed. She went to college for engineering but pretty quickly knew that this path wasn't where she wanted to land. So after college, she got a job in corporate as a programmer. She then moved into product management on the web side.  Working in different sectors in corporate, having experience in government, non-profits, and start-up, Julie has had vast experience when it comes to working with different types of people in different types of companies. This was her path for more than ten years.  During her marriage, she and her husband were having a difficult time getting pregnant. And during one of her regular check-ups with her doctor, this doctor slips her a card for a therapist. Being in shock and not knowing how to feel, Julie felt so offended. They were already dealing with issues of her physical body, but she felt the doctor wanted to tell her that there was also something wrong with her mentally.  But, despite what she felt, Julie took the card and made an appointment with the therapist. During this session, she had a cleansing experience. She came out of the session and felt so powerful. She didn't know that an experience like that existed. That for her, started the journey for her in her career as a therapist.  Through that process, she really decided that she wanted to be on the other side and help people the best way she could. After a few years, she began her private practice as a therapist and Julie cannot be any happier with the path she took.  JULIE'S JOURNEY Julie Hall is an experienced licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Connecticut. She specialises in supporting individuals, families and couples navigating issues of self-worth, life transitions and/or trauma. Julie draws upon compassion and curiosity to foster a safe environment for clients to explore their lived experiences. She desires for her clients to feel seen, known and valued. Julie also explores family systems with clients as a tool in self understanding, strength and empowerment to ultimately foster healthy growth and change. TWEET “When we don't see ourselves in therapy (or as therapists), we don't think it's for us.“ #chasingdreams WHY MENTAL HEALTH AND THERAPY ISN'T TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH Although we as a society have achieved a lot when it comes to talking about and raising awareness around mental health, the fact is that there are still hundreds of thousands of people who are afraid to talk about their own mental health struggles.  As far as the immigrant experience, Julie shares her thoughts around mental health. There is this image of success, image of having the job, the family, and the house. When we start talking about the challenges we are experiencing, these challenges really impact the “image” that we want to uphold.  We don't talk about the tough things. But what it does is that it perpetuates the experience. It's almost like you failed at something you didn't know you were testing for.  We have our five senses - sight, smell, taste, feel and hear. Then we have our sixth sense - the meaning-making sense. It's how we make meaning of the world around us. THE BIG THINGS AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY Julie works primarily with teens, adults and families navigating identity issues, communication, conflict resolution, life transitions, poor

We all have the power of choice.  But some of us think otherwise. If you don’t believe you have a choice because of the stories that others have put in your mind, ask yourself what will you choose today to start unwiring that lie, so that you can live your life and not that story you’re telling yourself.  In this episode of Chasing Dreams, we get to chat with the amazing Tommy Breedlove on how, through conscious actions and inner work, you can build and live a legendary life.  Tommy Breedlove is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of the book, Legendary, and Atlanta-based business, relationship, and mindset coach who is a regularly featured keynote speaker at global events. He serves clients and audiences by empowering them to build and live Legendary Lives. He guides them to build a lasting legacy, work in their zone of brilliance, obtain financial confidence, and live with meaning and balance.  YOUNG TOMMY Tommy grew up fairly humble on the south side of Carolina, where not many people from there are given the opportunity to go to college. As a young boy, Tommy’s dream was to drive a Coca Cola truck. He loved the product and knew the company was a good one.  But as a young boy this dream wasn’t something he chased. His parents pushed Tommy into the college path. However, growing up in and around a lot of violence and abuse, Tommy became what he hated. At 18 years old, he committed a violent crime and was looking at seven years in prison. So all that hard work and that dream was literally lost in the blink of an eye. But luckily, it was dropped to a misdemeanor. Tommy spent his 19th birthday incarcerated as opposed to being in university.  This was his first major wake up call and his first reset. He opened his eyes and saw that he was running in the wrong direction with the wrong people. He made a choice to redirect his life.  But like everything in life, there are reasons for why things happen. While young Tommy was in jail, a 45 year old African-American decided to step over racial lines and mentor Tommy. One thing that was missing from his life before prison was good, solid mentorship. This man told Tommy that he wasn’t going to be part of the system. They spent several days and weeks learning from and teaching one another. Tommy was inspired.  After serving his time, Tommy decided to start again and not waste his second chance. So he decided to work for a nuclear waste container factory and did community college at night. He went from a jail cell, to UGA, to being hired by Deloitte (one of the largest financial companies in the world), in three years.   If you work hard on your inner game - your mind, physical, and spiritual health - all of these things will come to you. There’s nothing you can’t overcome. And in life, it’s all about the long-term game and the long-term commitment to ourselves.  TWEET “Hurt people hurt people. I do believe that people can change and with intentional action, you can do or be whatever you want. And so no matter what mistakes you’ve made, you can always overcome it by taking intentional action.” @TommyBreedlove #chasingdreams FOLLOWING OTHERS’ DEFINITION OF SUCCESS  After Tommy’s reset, he began working with Deloitte. His mindset was about working hard and being his best self. At the time, he thought if he just outworked and out-hustled everybody in that world and found money, power and success, he would then be happy.  He worked his way up through other firms. But no matter how high up he was in the corporate ladder, he was still that abused and hurt little boy. This was mainly because he hadn’t done the inner work that was needed. This resulted in Tommy turning back into the darkness whenever the money, power, success, or next deal didn’t fulfil him. Tommy was wearing all of these masks at work - the guy with the shiny suit, the tough guy, the guy who didn’t need to ask for...

We all have our own unique potential in this world. It’s up to us to find it and live up to it. Because if we aren’t living life to its full potential, then we are missing out.  Today’s guest is someone who shares so much value on how stepping out of your comfort zone is the best way to reach your full potential.  Andrea Parker is a former police detective turned human potential coach. As an accredited International Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Andrea works with high-performing women, helping them to release the limiting beliefs that are holding them back from their greatness, and empowering them to live their most extraordinary lives. YOUNG ANDREA As a young child, Andrea loved asking questions, whether to herself or others. With her inquisitive mind, she knew she wanted to become either a teacher or a police officer. Innately, she loved teaching. The dream of becoming a police officer was because of her curious mind.  Fast forward to the start of Andrea’s career in police college, she recounts not feeling that it was what she wanted to do. She felt like being where she was at the time was the furthest from what she imagined it to be.  But she continued with her journey, finished college as class valedictorian, began working with the police force, and had been on for about a decade. However, there was always this nagging feeling in Andrea telling her that this wasn’t in alignment with her true self. She loved learning about people and the connection piece, but the overall environment was not what she had imagined.  Not feeling connected to what she was doing and with her true self, this was the quickest way she learned what she did want in life. Today, she is a human potential coach and CEO of her own company, a place she wouldn’t have reached without first experiencing all that she went through.   TWEET “At the time, I didn’t understand why I was in this career. But looking back now, that was probably the quickest way that I could have learned the things that I wanted to learn to be where I am today. So I’m so grateful I did it.” @AndreaPCoaching #chasingdreams ANDREA’S JOURNEY FROM DETECTIVE TO COACH A lot of what Andrea teaches and does as a human potential coach is all about living from your heart, and when you live from your heart it calls you out of your comfort zone.  Policing pulled Andrea out of her comfort zone, similarly with coaching. She became a human potential coach because she saw the impact it had on her life mostly because she spent so much of her life not feeling connected with what she was doing.  When it came to policing, she was thriving on paper - earning seven figures, she had successful loving relationships, and health. But inside, she felt she still wasn’t enough. This sparked her personal development journey. She took courses, seminars, podcasts to improve personally and professionally. With so much knowledge that she was absorbing, she felt like she was hitting a personal development plateau. She was doing all the things and experiencing some change, but at the same time she wasn’t. This is what Andrea called a “baseball bat from the universe.” Her wakeup call. This wakeup call was with her health.  As a former athlete, Andrea valued her health most of all. She used to be a former competitive athlete and a former personal trainer. However, she noticed that she began experiencing extreme food sensitivities, extreme food allergies, and narcolepsy. It was to the point that she knew she needed to start doing something different.  At that point, she began working with a coach who helped her tap into her subconscious. It was through doing this work that she started to realize that she had some limiting beliefs that were holding her back from truly thriving and pursuing the life she really wanted to live.  From doing her own inner work, she was able to double her work, build her coaching business and get back her health.

It’s not what they call you, it’s what you answer to. What do you answer to?  This is Jewel’s favourite quote and the questions she asks her guests all the time. It makes you define yourself and not have anyone else define you. This time, I was able to ask her the same question.  For Jewel, she answers to who God defines her. She answers to being worthy of belonging in the community and to the personification of her name - Jewel - a rare and precious person.  JEWEL’S JOURNEY Jewel and I met sometime around September. We just hit it off at the first meeting. She has been around the world and lived life. It’s the humility she has and the care for others that emanates from her.  Her podcast, Let’s Talk About This Offline, began last year during the COVID lockdown. Being an avid podcast listener, she kept thinking to herself that she could also be a podcaster because she had so much to say.   Let’s Talk About This Offline came about because it was a phrase she always heard at work and the conversations she had offline were so much more interesting. These conversations made her think about the world around her more than the conversations she had online. This sparked the idea of creating a podcast of conversations with people about offline topics.  These conversations help shine the light on differences for people and also find their commonalities.  WE ARE ALL SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS Jewel’s podcast is a platform where she conveys that we all go through ages, stages, and seasons. We all go through different adversities and we build resilience because of these challenges. Through these hardships that we all go through, we each have our own fire in the belly that keeps us coming back for more.  Through her podcast, she gives people a platform to share their stories which makes her listeners see that we truly are the same and we all want the same things.  TWEET “Oftentimes, we forget that we are all human regardless of your race, gender, sexuality.” @jewelt73 #chasingdreams QUOTE “It’s not what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” - W.C Fields YOUNG JEWEL  As a little girl, young Jewel wanted to be a writer. She was an avid reader and loved other worlds, especially science fiction and fantasy because in those worlds you could create whenever you wanted and the rules were arbitrary. They didn’t matter because they weren’t the rules where she lived in. She loved reading because this gave her a way to travel in her head.  She grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Their home was open to everyone, where her family and friends would always gather on Sundays after church. During these gatherings, she was able to hear so many different kinds of conversations from all walks of life. It was an eye-opener for young Jewel to know that her world was bigger than her little home. It created a wanderlust in her that sparked her curiosity in other people and their experiences which made her embrace life and live it to its fullest.  TWEET “If you take a step forward, people take ten steps towards you.” @jewelt73 #chasingdreams Balancing travel, work, and family   Being a lover of life, Jewel lives it to the fullest. She embraces each and every moment and this spills over into her work. She and her husband travel around the world talking to all different types of people from all different backgrounds.  Through her travels, the best advice she got from an older and wiser woman was, “A lot of people are going to tell you that you can have it all. You CAN have it all, but you can’t have it all at the same time.”  Going into marriage and motherhood with that mindset, she was open to the idea that this season may not be for her to work outside the home. This may be the season in life where you’re going to take one for the team. There may be days that would be mundane and long, but that doesn’t mean it will be that way all the time. ...

TRIGGER WARNING: Topics covered may elicit strong emotions.  Suicide is a large and growing public health problem and it has been for a while. But with COVID-19, the numbers have seen a large spike. According to the World Health Organization, almost 800,000 people in the world die by suicide every year. “For each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts. Suicide and attempts have a huge ripple effect on families, friends, communities, and societies.” But there is something that we can all do to prevent this public health problem.  Our guest for today is mental health comedian, Frank King. Frank was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years. He’s fought a lifetime battle with Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Suicidality, turning that long dark journey of the soul into 6 TEDx Talks to help others. For Frank, suicide is not a new topic. Depression and suicide run in his family. He’s thought about killing himself more times than he can count. But with help, he was able to overcome this health problem and uses his life lessons to start the conversation giving people permission to give voice to their feelings and experiences surrounding depression and suicide. He believes that where there is humor there is hope, where there is laughter there is life, nobody dies laughing. The right person, at the right time, with the right information, can save a life.  Mental health is an important topic and these are conversations we need to have more and more. Let’s start the conversation.  FRANK’S JOURNEY Frank’s career began as an insurance agent. But a few years into his career, he felt that this was not his calling. He then ventured out as a comedian. He knew that he would not have anything to lose if this new career path didn't work out.  But fortunately, it did. For 2,629 nights non-stop he and his then girlfriend hit the road moving from one comedy bar to another. From the “Comedy Condo” to the corporate side of comedy. A few years into his career, his business suddenly started facing bankruptcy, and that’s where he learned what the barrel of his gun tasted like.   But, spoiler alert - he didn’t pull the trigger. Frank used his experiences to start the conversation about suicide and mental health.  WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH COMEDY? Who would you rather listen to for 45 minutes about mental health? A clinician or a comedian?  Mental health comedy is not joking about mental health and suicide but funny personal anecdotes. They call it comic relief for a reason. Frank’s love for speaking and comedy mixed with his yearning to teach others about the importance of mental health is how his career as a mental health comedian began. In January 1, 2018, he decided that he would be a suicide prevention speaker. With his family history in generational depression and suicide (from his grandmother, to his aunt, to his mother), he knew that the topic for his keynote picked him - suicide prevention. He then began speaking about suicide prevention and spreading the important message around it.  WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE? “You can be surrounded by love but the mind can be a lonely place at times”.  Suicide is on the rise in the United States, but people still don’t know quite how to talk about it. Although suicide awareness and mental health have come a long way, there is still so much stigma around them, which can make it difficult to talk about for those affected.   According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/06/more-americans-are-dying-from-suicide/562406/ (suicide has risen by 30 percent in the United States between 1999 and 2016). It can be hard to think about suicide — much less talk about it. Many people shy away from the subject. They fear they might say the wrong thing. Those who have never experienced suicidal thoughts may even find it impossible to understand. And suicide definitely

March is Women’s History month. During this celebration, the media usually focuses on Oprah, Michelle Obama or other famous women in history. But today’s guest should also be one of the many women to be honoured this Women’s History Month In this episode of Chasing Dreams, we get to speak with Maaden Eshete Jones, the founder of Love, Maaden. Maaden is a wellness advocate, story teller, and lover of celebrations. She believes that community begets fearlessness, and that gathering around the table with others to share in real and vulnerable conversation is an act of self love.  ABOUT MAADEN Madi, as she is known to her friends, holds a Master of Public Health with a focus in Social and Behavioural Health. The driving idea behind her company -- Love, Maaden -- is to provide women, particularly mothers, with the tools needed to understand and heal from life's inevitable challenges. She launched Love, Maaden as a means to encourage others to intentionally unplug and meet their people around a table. Madi is waging a war against fear, and encouraging a generation to overcome isolation and self-doubt in favour of community, joy, and gratitude. While she wears many hats, she identifies with family first. A wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Friend; she currently resides in Maryland with her husband, Louis, and their young daughter. YOUNG MAADEN Young Madi, like most kids, thought she would be a doctor or a talk show host. When asked what she wanted to be when she grows up, whatever profession she would answer, the one thing that she would add at the end of her answer is that she wanted to be a Mom.  Oftentimes, we see our Moms as super women - juggling professional life, personal life, and so many other things in between. As women, we recognize that being a Mom is a job. Young Maaden always saw her mom as an influence in her life and someone she looked up to and wanted to be like. This is where her journey began.  MAADEN’S CAREER JOURNEY Always a lover of science and healthcare, Maaden knew she wanted to be a scientist in the health industry. She knew she wanted to work in the health sector and help others with their health and overall well-being. However, in her student days, hard sciences were what was encouraged. The public health sector wasn’t something encouraged to young students.  So how did Madi land on the path she is on now?  At six years old, she remembered her sister being born prematurely. She accounts going back and forth to the hospital visiting her mom and her younger sister. This was the spark where she wanted to help moms and saw herself being a mom as well. She was always concerned with babies, moms, and families and this common thread continued on until her college days.  Being fascinated with health and wellness, she took up and graduated with a Masters in Public Health. Her masteral thesis was around Maternal and Child Health. Once she got married, she experienced recurrent pregnancy loss. Putting these circumstances and events together, throughout her life, there was always this thread of being concerned with the issues that women faced and particularly for moms.  As she worked her day job, she always had something on the side helping women and moms, including launching a women’s health non-profit that turned to a one-year project for holistic health. Helping other women and promoting women’s health and well-being was her calling and passion. A few years after working, Maaden took a break and had a successful pregnancy. She then came back with new and uplifted spirits, and that’s when she launched Love, Maaden.  HOW LOVE, MAADEN CAME TO BE According to Madi, Love, Maaden is a marriage of social aspects of life, the science and the spiritual. It’s about getting together around the table, helping one another health, showing each other love and showing ourselves love.  Love, Maaden is a culmination of all of the things that she learned in her...

Are you a glass half-empty or half-full sort of person? What if there was another way to see it? That is, that the glass is refillable.  No matter what you go through in life, you have the power to choose to fill and refill your life with what makes you happy. Filling your life with happiness starts from within.  Today’s guest is the best-selling author of One Happy Thought at a Time: 30 Days to a Happier You - Rochelle Gapere. She teaches readers how to live a life that fulfills and engages them at every level. Through shared personal stories, anecdotes and life lessons, her book teaches readers how to become a happier version of themselves despite life's inevitable challenges. In her book, she shares life lessons that will empower readers to make happiness-enhancing decisions each day. Happiness looks different for everyone. For some it may be being at peace with who you are. For others, it may be having a secure network of friends and a family who accept you unconditionally. Others may find happiness with the freedom to pursue their life goals and wildest dreams. Regardless of your version of true happiness, living a happier and more fulfilling life is within reach. But the question is, how do we find more joy in our life? Like anything else, it takes practice to cultivate ongoing happiness. Happiness coach, Rochelle Gapere, shares with us her insights and knowledge on creating a life of happiness.  YOUNG ROCHELLE Rochelle wanted to be an attorney ever since she was a child. She always liked talking a lot, and advocating on behalf of people, especially the underdog. During her early years in school, her classmates who were experiencing challenges or problems would approach her and she would fix it. She always had a passion for helping people and fighting for the underdog. Because of this passion, she knew that going into law school and becoming a lawyer made the most sense.  LEARNING FROM THE JOURNEY What you think you want may be different from what you actually want in life.  As a child, Rochelle’s dream was to become a lawyer. However, when Rochelle started law school, she realized it was not her real passion and she could not imagine herself doing this forever. But the thought of dropping out of law school did not occur to her because she had the mindset of finishing what she started. So she pushed on, finished law school, and became a lawyer.  However, she soon realized that being an attorney is not all that it seems. TV and the media do not accurately portray legal life or the life of a lawyer.  For Rochelle, going into law school was eye-opening. Her advice for her younger self and all other younger people chasing their dreams, is to explore what you are passionate about. Explore your interests and meet other people in your industry so that you will discover what it is you actually want to do versus what you think you want to do.  That’s a huge difference. After law school, Rochelle had a few years of experience working in corporate law, but found that there was more out there for her. She knew big law was not for her. This is when she ventured into new spaces.  Looking back, Rochelle says she doesn’t have any regrets with the choices she made because law has opened up so many doors for her. She believes that she had to go through all that she did in order to get to where she is now.  TWEET: [bctt tweet="“Explore what you are passionate about. Explore your interests and meet other people in your industry so that you will discover what it is you actually want to do versus what you think you want to do. That’s a huge difference.” @rochellegapere #chasingdreams" username="aimeej21"] WHY BECOME A HAPPINESS COACH? Once Rochelle graduated from law school and started working, there was always a knowing sensation that being a lawyer was not her calling. She started an event marketing company which filled the void for a while.  But each year,...

Two-thirds of American adults regret their college major and are not happy with their career choices. That is so much wasted time, effort, and money. So many people are disengaged with their jobs, meaning, they feel no real connection to their jobs, and thus they tend to do the bare minimum. There are actually a large number of reasons as to why employees might feel disengaged with their work and one root cause is not having enough choices as a child to discover their true passion. Today’s guest is on a mission to help kids discover their interests and potential career paths in hopes of creating a generation of happier adults. Holly Sharp is an award winning children’s book author and writer of “Dream It & Do It: 100 Possibilities, Stories and Real-Life Role Models.” Her book explores career role models for the next generation of rebels, dreamers and change-makers. It is a must-read for dream chasers that introduces children and parents to the possibilities of the future through reading and play. YOUNG HOLLY What did you want to be when you were a dream chaser in your teens? As a child, Holly wanted to be an advertising executive. When she was young, her attention wasn’t on the TV shows for children but rather, on the advertisements. Her eyes would light up whenever the commercials came on and as soon as the ads were over, she would go back to playing with her toys. With a love for advertising ever since she was a kid, Holly spent most of her life focusing on this career path. She believed that advertising was the most interesting way to communicate.  Following her love for advertising and marketing, she began her career as an intern in an advertising agency. She then moved on to a marketing and product development career for the last 15 years. From ice cream, to bug killing products, to cleaning products, Holly’s career in product development spans a vast array of industries. TWEET: [bctt tweet="I do wish that I could talk to teenage Holly and say there’s a great career where you can be your own boss. I wish I’d known then what I know now, but at least I got here. @Dream_Itanddoit #chasingdreams" username="aimeej21"] JUMPING INTO A NEW CAREER What were your thoughts around jumping into the new area of children’s book writing? Holly was blessed with parents who instilled a strong self-esteem in her which gave her the confidence to do anything she set her mind to. She always believed that she can finish anything she starts. Despite being afraid of failure, she needed this book to exist for her daughter. She knew that if things go wrong and the book doesn't sell, she would have created a powerful book for her daughter and it would have been 6 months well spent.    ONE HUNDRED POSSIBILITIES Why did you choose this topic for your book? A self-proclaimed problem-solver, Holly loves to think about the things that people need and always tries to find out how to make those things come to life. “Knowing in high school what I wanted to do with my life set me up for the right path.” She wanted her child to have the same opportunities, so she searched for books to guide her, but came up short. That’s when she thought, ‘why not write the book for my child that she needs and that will also help others?” Her award-winning book, Dream It & Do It introduces children and parents to a wide range of career possibilities. In it you will find 100 stories featuring 100 role models, each one showcasing a different career choice. She goes deep into the details of the challenges and lessons that these role models have learned in their journey.  TWEET: [bctt tweet="Holly wanted to make sure that all types of kids could see themselves in her book. @Dream_Itanddoit #chasingdreams" username="aimeej21"] KICK-STARTING IMAGINATIONS Holly’s goal with this book is to make the next generation of kids happier with their jobs. One of the things that she does with her book is taking the...

In continuation of Black History Month celebrations, today’s guest has inspiration and motivation to help you take action and get real about your passion and purpose. Join us to learn more! Mario Armstrong is a two-time Emmy Award-winner, lifestyle entrepreneur, content creator, and motivational speaker. He’s also a partner with Daymond John’s Shark Group. Mario's mission is to provide the advice and tools to help you hustle mindfully to pursue your passions. His podcast is called Wake Up and Level Up, and his web series is called Never Settle. This critically acclaimed production has been recognized with an Emmy Award for “Best Interactivity,” an Emmy Award Nomination for “Best Program Host,” a Digiday Publishing Award nomination for “Best Use of Facebook Live,” a Webby Honoree Award for “Social: Experimental & Innovation,” and an award for “Best Live Show” from the International Academy of Web Television Awards. Young Mario What were your dreams as a young person? Mario always knew that he wanted to be on TV or in radio. He loved acting and communicating and anything that led to performing on a stage. Always impressed by people who were “on camera,” Mario still loves being around people and feeding off their energy. He’s a passionate risk-taker and dreamer who believes he can do anything he wants. This determination did not translate into academic success for Mario because he viewed school as a distraction, and he was satisfied to do “just enough” to get by. Being curious, asking questions, and shaking things up did not serve him well in the structured school setting, but these qualities have set him up for success in his career. College was when everything came together with his communications major, and he finally realized that relevance equals purpose. It was later that he understood that every obstacle and step in his journey had purpose. [bctt tweet="Every obstacle and step in your journey has purpose. @marioarmstrong #chasingdreams"] Figure out your passion What is your passion? Mario says that it’s important to write down what you like to do. From that list, you must identify the things that ramp you up and excite you the most. Rating these interests with a numbering system will help you identify the easiest next steps to take. At that point, consider the resources available for those interests. Mario has created a worksheet that helps people find and pinpoint their passion. He uses the analogy of the magic of peanut butter and jelly to illustrate how randomly different interests can connect together and play into each other. Download Mario’s worksheet tool and answer the questions to find your passion. [bctt tweet="Keep in mind that randomly different interests can connect together and play into each other. @marioarmstrong #chasingdreams" username="aimeej21"] Get it out there What is the world waiting to see from you? Mario teaches that it’s important to get your work out there to people even if it’s not yet perfected. People can’t support your idea if they don’t have a glimpse of it because you’re still working on it. We all know that “perfect” doesn’t really exist because our ideas are constantly evolving. Every successful person will tell you that the secret to their success is that they didn’t have it “all figured out.” Most people figure things out along the way, which has never been more relevant than right now during the COVID pandemic. Mario’s show, Never Settle, has evolved as he has, and he’s excited for what the future holds as they get ready for a new season! [bctt tweet="Most people figure things out along the way. @marioarmstrong #chasingdreams"] Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”The big steps to take are to develop the muscle of resilience and learn how to sell.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [00:40] Vulnerability in the journey [07:22] Young Mario’s dreams [15:05] Deciding to help people [18:17] Figuring out your passion [26:45] Dangers of comparison...

To kick off Black History Month, we are visiting with a New York Times bestselling author. You may remember her from Episode 58, way back in 2016. She was here to promote her first book, and today, she’s telling us about her second book. The book is available for preorder, and it’s required reading for any dream chaser. Join us! Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and podcast host who thrives at the intersection of comedy, media, and justice. Her debut book, https://amzn.to/2L4nPIG (I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual), was released to critical acclaim, hitting the New York Times bestselling list at #5. She’s an internationally recognized speaker who takes on dozens of stages every year around the globe, and she has spoken at some of the world's most innovative companies and conferences, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter. Her TEDtalk, “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable,” has over 5.5 million views! Her new book, Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, drops March 2, 2021, and is available for preorder at http://www.professionaltroublemakerbook.com (www.professionaltroublemakerbook.com). Ordinary people, extraordinary things Who is a hero that you’re tempted to put up on a pedestal? Luvvie doesn’t want to be put on a pedestal. Even though we tend to view people with platforms as heroes, we have to realize that they went through the grind and the struggles to take their journey. People on pedestals are set up for failure because they WILL get tired and fall. Even our heroes are flawed individuals who are learning and growing along the way. Luvvie wants everyone to know that she’s a regular person, just like everyone else. It takes constant work to maintain a platform of influence and be an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. TWEET: Even our heroes are flawed individuals who are learning and growing along the way. @luvvie #chasingdreams Going solo Would you ever vacation alone? You’ll probably say NO, but Luvvie urges you to reconsider that viewpoint. As her 30th birthday approached, she wanted to go on vacation but realized it was too late for any of her friends to schedule a trip. She went alone to the Dominican Republic and had the time of her life. That same year, she visited several other countries all over the world--all by herself. She fully thrived in the freedom to make her own plans and choices each day without consulting anyone else. There are so few opportunities in life to do exactly what we want without having to consider and accommodate the wants and needs of other people. She says these solo vacations are a true gift she gave to herself that have changed her life. She’s learned that she doesn’t need the counsel and approval of other people to do what we need to in life. Why do we live our lives based on the opinions of others? Try a solo vacation if you need a new perspective on life! TWEET: Don’t live your life based on the opinions of others. @luvvie #chasingdreams “Too much, too loud, and too troublesome” Are you a fear fighter? Luvvie wrote her second book to help those who need to know how to fight fear in their lives, which is an especially relevant topic for women. With blogging, writing, podcasting, and creating communities, Luvvie tries to establish what she needs because that means that others will find value there also. The concept of fear-fighting means we have to do scary things sometimes. Fear is a universal emotion, but we each feel like we are alone in our uncertainty, doubt, and anxiety. We need community to know that we are not alone. We need others to be “too much, too loud, and too troublesome” with us. Remember that it’s OK to stay scared and move forward with courage. TWEET: Remember that it’s OK to stay scared and move forward with courage. @luvvie #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Write down your dreams. Whatever they are, write them down.” OUTLINE OF THE...

I’m excited to share the inspirational story of someone who is the epitome of a dream chaser. At age 70, my mother is still going strong, staying busy, and enjoying happiness in her new role. I hope you’ll join us to hear her story. Ammini Aunty (Saramma/Sara) was a nurse in Baltimore for 40 years after her childhood in Kerala and Mumbai, India. During her nursing career, she welcomed every opportunity to teach nurses and nursing students because teaching has always been her natural gift. When her children asked her to capture her knowledge and passion for cooking for them and her grandchildren, Ammini Aunty knew she could do it, thanks to her love for teaching and orienting others. As people watch her cooking show, she encourages them to ask questions so they can learn and be successful in their cooking endeavors. She believes that a love and passion for cooking and learning can help anyone become a great cook. Ammini Aunty says, “If you put your mind to it, you can do it.” With this mantra in mind, “A Pinch of Kerala” was developed to share her love for cooking with others. Why a cooking show? Do you love sharing your passion with others? Ammini Aunty loved teaching other nurses during her long career, but now, in retirement, she loves sharing her passion for cooking with the world. She loves being in the kitchen, always experimenting and trying new things. Chicken, for instance, can be cooked in so many ways, so she loves watching cooking shows, learning new recipes, and trying them out on her family. She cooks for family, friends, and neighbors and anxiously awaits their feedback and approval. It’s her passion for food and cooking that keep her going strong and enjoying life at age 70, even in the middle of a pandemic. Cooking for people is definitely her “love language.” If you ever visit Ammini Aunty’s house, don’t be surprised to be brought into the kitchen to peel ginger or grate coconut because that is just her way of doing things. TWEET: Cooking for people is definitely Ammini Aunty’s love language! @apinchofkerala #chasingdreams “No one is born a chef” How are your kitchen skills? Ammini Aunty is of the firm opinion that anyone can learn to cook. When her daughters were in college, they often brought friends home who wanted to learn to make things like chicken curry or fried rice. Ammini insisted that everything is made from scratch, so she would make them follow each step in cutting up the raw chicken, chopping fresh vegetables, and adding spices. One important step in cooking is tasting as you go, to make sure the flavors are right! She loves imparting her knowledge to others and teaching them to do something new. She says that no one is born a chef, but we can all learn cooking skills by practicing. TWEET: No one is born a chef, but we can all learn cooking skills by practicing. @apinchofkerala #chasingdreams “We are meeting a need” How have you kept busy during the pandemic? It may sound crazy that a 70-year-old retired nurse started a cooking show from her kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the urging of her daughters, Ammini Aunty began recording cooking videos last April for “A Pinch of Kerala.” She sees the value in what she does in helping people learn to cook and try new things in the kitchen. At the end of 2020, her daughters asked if she wanted to keep doing the show. She replied, “Of course I want to keep going; we are meeting a need that people have.” She knows that her cooking videos are preserving something for the following generations to see. Because of the joy and newfound purpose in her life, Ammini Aunty plans to continue her show, and she has big plans for a handbook and cookbook-- later in 2021! TWEET: Ammini Aunty knows that her cooking videos are preserving something for the following generations to see. @apinchofkerala #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”There is no age limit on chasing your dreams. Follow your passion.” OUTLINE...

Welcome to 2021! It promises to be a wild ride! If 2020 left you feeling less than successful in your dream chase, then you can’t miss today’s show! I’m claiming 2021 as my own. I’m listing ten things I’m doing to make that happen. You can follow these steps as I count them down to make YOUR 2021 a year of progress and accomplishment. Top Ten Ways to Claim 2021 for yourself: 10- Decide for yourself what you want in life. TWEET: I was conditioned by my culture to go in directions that didn’t fulfill me. Don’t be like I was. #chasingdreams 9- Visualize your dreams and   goals. TWEET: Plan out what you want to see and when you want to see it happen. #chasingdreams 8- Step outside your comfort zone. TWEET: Don’t live in fear, but open up to new possibilities. #chasingdreams 7- Create SMART goals for yourself. TWEET: SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. #chasingdreams 6- Identify your reason and your WHY. TWEET: Your WHY is your motivator, fuel, and your reason to keep going. #chasingdreams 5- Practice an attitude of gratitude. TWEET: Gratitude will change your outlook to focus on the positives. #chasingdreams 4- Find your accountability support group. TWEET: Get a coach or mentor, or find like-minded people who will support you. #chasingdreams 3- Be intentional. TWEET: This is my theme for 2021; it’s about the dream chase and its progress. #chasingdreams 2- Value progress over perfection. TWEET: Take the first step; don’t wait for things to be perfect. #chasingdreams 1- Take action. TWEET: Make choices that align with your goals. #chasingdreams           OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [2:18] Make your own decisions [4:29] Visualize your dreams and goals [5:40] Step outside your comfort zone [7:25] Write down your SMART goals [8:57] Identify your reason and WHY [10:20] Practice an attitude of gratitude [11:18] Find your accountability support group [12:34] Be intentional [14:30] Value progress over perfection [16:34] Take action RESOURCES MENTIONED: My https://www.facebook.com/aimeej21 (Facebook) My https://twitter.com/aimeej21 (Twitter) My https://instagram.com/aimeej21 (Instagram) My https://linkedin.com/in/aimeej21 (LinkedIn) https://youtu.be/ydreW2EYJGc (Watch the Episode on YouTube) TWEETS YOU CAN USE: You have to decide what you want and not rely on what other people tell you. #chasingdreams Stepping outside your comfort zone gives you more options. #chasingdreams To align my goals, I have to say NO to some things. #chasingdreams

Today’s show is a special solo episode. Since it’s the only show for December, we are looking back at 2020, which was an unprecedented year. I feel like the year began with such promise and hope in the hearts of so many people, but it came in disrespectfully--and it seems to be heading out in much the same way. The problems of 2020 aren’t over, and we’re learning to make adjustments and accept that we are living with a new normal. Let’s spend time reflecting together! 2020--The year of the pivot Have you found yourself making big changes in your plans and dreams for 2020? Like me, you may have begun the year with grand plans to travel, celebrate milestones, and start new endeavors. Just a few weeks into the year, we were told to stay inside and socially distance ourselves from others. Weeks turned into months, and here we are, watching 2020 on its way out.  Masks have become a debatable issue that has somehow turned political. Businesses and schools had to pivot and change their operations in unimaginable ways. It is, indeed, the year of the pivot--and not the kind of pivot anyone expected or wanted. The economy spiraled downward as countless numbers of people lost their jobs and homes. The difficulties have been unparalleled for many families. TWEET: 2020 is the year of the pivot, and not the kind of pivot anyone expected or wanted. #chasingdreams People need people Is it easy for you to admit that you need other people? Many of us like to think we can “go it alone” through life, but the truth is that we need others so much more than we might think. It’s hard to draw strength, support, encouragement from others when we’re socially distant. It seems like just maintaining our sanity has counted as success in 2020.  All around the world, people were (and are) facing difficult situations. The key is to change our perspective, which is one of the only things we can control. Besides dealing with the pandemic, we’ve lost many iconic individuals in ways that are hard to understand, like Kobe Bryant, John Lewis, and RBG, to name just a few.  “2020” will forever be a descriptor of hard things that aren’t easy to understand. Life became a new normal for many of us, and we didn’t invite it, expect it, or desire it. TWEET: Changing our perspective is one of the only things we can control. #chasingdreams Be grateful--and step out of your comfort zone! Has 2020 caused you to take a more appreciative view of what you have? It’s important to acknowledge what you have and be grateful for those things. 2020 has forced us to take a new look at what’s really important in our lives.  As we reflect on this difficult year, it’s important to have a spirit of gratitude for the blessings we have. I was forced to evaluate what I was doing in my life and make some changes for sustainability. This included selling some items to build efficiency and improve the processes I use for podcasting. I’ve had to step outside my comfort zone as a podcaster and learn to livestream. Staying in your comfort zone means that new and exciting things aren’t happening, so challenge yourself and step out!  As we say goodbye to 2020, I urge you to take time to evaluate the areas of life; are you happy with how things are going? Remember, it’s never too late to make changes and do things differently. TWEET: Staying in your comfort zone means that new and exciting things aren’t happening, so challenge yourself and step out! #chasingdreams OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [2:00] 2020’s beginning [3:55] The year of the pivot [4:24] People need people [6:24] The new normal [8:45] My mom’s big pivot [11:50] Acknowledge the things you have [13:12] My life with its changes and pivots [21:00] What can you change? RESOURCES MENTIONED: My https://www.facebook.com/aimeej21 (Facebook) My https://twitter.com/aimeej21 (Twitter) My https://instagram.com/aimeej21 (Instagram) My https://linkedin.com/in/aimeej21 (LinkedIn)...

Today, my guest shares her inspiring story about what helped her turn things around in life to manifest her dreams. She shares nuggets of wisdom and practical techniques that can help you move forward in your dream chase. Join us! Heather Hakes is a mindset coach, speaker, and author of https://amzn.to/3pHkMWa (Take the Leap). She has been featured on numerous podcasts and published in Voyage Denver and Women Who Empower and Inspire. Heather has reached tens of thousands through her international podcast, Mind Over Matter. Heather specializes in helping others get out of their own way by awakening their infinite potential to create their ideal life. Heather is a graduate of Tony Robbins’ Mastery University and Gabby Bernstein’s Spirit Junkie Masterclass. She also studies Eckhart Tolle, Bob Proctor, and Robin Sharma’s principles of presence, shifting paradigms, and personal mastery. Heather manifested six-figures after taking the leap to quit the corporate world by aligning with her true passion and purpose and is now on a mission to help others overcome self-doubt through her transformative coaching programs, retreats, and courses. Following society’s rules How likely are you to follow the “rules” that society sets for you? Heather admits that she was caught in this trap for a long time. She followed society’s rules in getting her degree and moving into the corporate world. For over a decade, Heather felt out of place, like she was chasing someone else’s dream. She remembers complaining to her parents about what she was doing while dreading every single Monday and cheering every single Friday for week after week. Climbing the corporate ladder left her feeling miserable about her job and her life. She finally clarified what she really wanted in life with the help of a coach. TWEET: Stop chasing someone else’s dream. @heather.hakes #chasingdreams A moment of pivot What is it that you need to pivot from right now? Pivoting away from what you’ve known is not an easy thing to do. For Heather, it meant leaving the safety and security of a corporate job with a steady and sufficient paycheck. She had felt the gnawing inside of her for a long time as it told her to make a change. Her message to others is not to wait until you’re “ready” and everything is aligned because those moments may never come. You just have to jump first and let the net appear. Heather made the leap, even though it meant facing the worst-case scenario with fear and hesitation. We all need to realize that our story is a journey and a process---and not a destination. TWEET: Don’t wait until you’re “ready” and everything is aligned to make a change because those moments may never come. @heather.hakes #chasingdreams Creating a path What do you do when the traditional path isn’t available or clear? Heather says to find a mentor when your circumstances change and you can’t see clearly the path ahead. Look for someone who is where you want to be or a few steps ahead of you. They can help you create clarity and formulate a roadmap forward. Be resourceful and find an “accountabili-buddy.” There are coaches, mentors, and peers who will help you if you just ask; they can be great resources to help you move forward with an attitude of gratitude for your journey and what you learn along the way. TWEET: Look for a mentor who is where you want to be or is a few steps ahead of you. @heather.hakes #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream-chaser to take--”Take one step in front of the other. Don’t look too far down the road. Try my technique for identifying specific goals: know your WHAT, be super specific about your strong WHYS, and take your first step.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [:32] Young Heather’s dreams  [1:05] How Heather incorporated teaching into her work    [2:15] Following society’s convention [3:58] Benefits to being curious [7:07] Heather’s moment of pivot [11:03] Why Heather has no regrets about her...

Today’s show might be exactly what you need. You’re in for the inspiring story of a woman who defied the odds and never gave up on her dream. She’s got gold nuggets of wisdom about believing in yourself and becoming your biggest advocate. Join us! Kate Garnes is a motivational speaker, choreographer, actor, and podcaster.  She travels the country to speak, especially to teenagers. Kate uses her story of being told she was never good enough to go on to become a performer at Walt Disney World. She’s gone on to become a gladiator, not because anyone saved her, but because she learned how to save herself. Kate is the author of Mixtape: How to Stop Listening to the Recordings of Your Past.  Big dreams  Have you dared to dream “big dreams”? From the time she was very young, Kate’s dreams and plans were to be a singer. She planned every step in her life around that dream but overhearing a chance conversation between her parents one day sent her the clear message that she wasn’t good enough. Through high school and college, Kate dabbled in various endeavors because she wasn’t sure what to do with her life. She soon auditioned at Walt Disney World and became a character performer for ten years. At age 28, her dream shifted to becoming a motivational speaker, which is what she does today. It’s a career that she loves and one that fulfills her in ways she could have never imagined. Today, Kate instructs teens on how to be their own biggest advocate and not their biggest critic in dreaming big and fighting to make those dreams come true.  TWEET: Be your own biggest advocate in dreaming big to make your dreams come true. @kategarneslive #chasingdreams Believing the lie Do you worry about what other people think about you? Most of us spend way too much time caring about what others think of us and our dreams. Part of the problem in believing in ourselves and chasing our dreams is that we believe the lie that everyone else knows more than we do. It’s the reason we let their words have such a strong influence over us. The truth is that other people don’t notice or think about us nearly as much as we think they do. Why do we give other people such power over us? Kate says we let their words determine our value and squelch our dreams. Why? TWEET: Stop giving other people power over you. @kategarneslive #chasingdreams Detox your life Does your life need a detox? Think about the podcasts, TV shows, movies, and friends that you have in your life. It’s an important principle that we will live out what we are consuming. An important step in chasing your dreams and realizing your worth is to detox your life from things you need to leave behind. There are movies and TV shows that you need to leave behind. There are friends who are full of negativity and criticism that we need to leave behind. Detoxing your life of negativity will leave more room for positive energy. Kate explains why we all need friends who are willing to “get in the mud” with us.  TWEET: Detox your life from things you need to leave behind. @kategarneslive #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Start asking questions. Ask as many questions as you know to ask, and if you run out, then ask some more. Listen to the voice inside you and give yourself permission to be the goddess, giant-slayer, adventurer, and hustler that you were created to be.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [:42] Young Kate’s dreams [3:03] Doing what she loves to do [4:47] Why kids struggle to dream [11:14] Being your advocate and putting in the work to be happy [15:49] Why we believe the LIE [17:36] How Kate found clarity at age 28 [22:00] Advice from Kate [28:37] Detox your life and show yourself grace [31:27] It’s OK to walk away from a dream [37:52] Take care of yourself--and then help others [45:16] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Kate’s Facebook Kate’s Twitter Kate’s Instagram Kate’s Book: Mixtape: How to

You are in for a treat with today’s guest and her unique story of resilience. Even though it took many years to make her childhood dreams come true, she found a way to make it happen despite overwhelming odds that were against her. She’s now enjoying success that she never saw coming--and the best is yet to come! Join us to learn more! Lori Orlinsky is a multi-award-winning author who lives in Chicago. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. An author with Mascot Books, Lori writes rhyming, lesson-based picture books that naturally lead to a discussion about important topics, such as bullying prevention and honesty. At just over five feet tall, she wishes her first book Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All) was around while she was growing up. Fulfilling a lifelong dream How long would you chase your dream before giving up? Lori knew as a young child that she wanted to write books. Even as a kid, she crafted construction paper “books” to tell her stories. She later prepared for the journey to writing children’s books by going to journalism school and writing in different capacities whenever she found opportunities. Her inspiration came from a specific incident with her oldest daughter being singled out as the shortest in her class. When Lori looked for children’s books about being small, she couldn’t find a single one! This was her inspiration to write Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All). Lori calls this event her “Aha moment” in the journey to chase her lifelong dream of being a writer. This is what it took to realize her dream was finding the personal passion for writing about a topic that impacted her family, along with realizing that the need existed for a book like hers. Lori’s book is for kids who feel singled out and slighted because of their small size, but it’s a book about bullying prevention at its core. TWEET: Lori realized her dream was finding the personal passion for writing about a topic that impacted her family. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams Continuing on the journey How many “No’s” would it take to make you give up on your dream? Lori would give a big number to that question. After writing her book, it took about 200 tries to get it published, but she never gave up. Lori’s second book, The Tooth Fairy’s Tummyache, was written in response to her struggle to teach her daughters the value of honesty. The story, with a main character named for her youngest daughter, concludes with an admonition to be honest and always tell the truth. The book has the fun silliness of a story with rhymes, but it teaches an important lesson in honesty, too. Lori believes that a fun story that teaches kids a valuable lesson is better than sitting down to have those difficult conversations about their behavior. Lori’s third book, Balloons for Tiger, is about the love we have for our pets and will be out in May 2021. TWEET: It took Lori 200 tries to get her first book published. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams The epitome of a dream chaser Does your dream chase inspire others? You don’t have to look hard at Lori’s story to be inspired by her resilience. She NEVER gave up on her dream. She waited for inspiration to strike and the need to arise for each book she has written. She says, “The best books come out of the times in which we live and the things that we experience.” Her first book is still in demand, it’s still being reprinted, and she’s still connecting with parents and teachers about it--even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether writing or just being a mom, Lori is passionate about teaching kids to focus on the positive moments in life and not let negative moments define them. TWEET: Lor waited for inspiration to strike and the need to arise for each book she has written. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Go back to your childhood. Find that one thing you’ve always wanted to do and make your original dreams come true.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [:08] Young Lori’s dreams     [4:28] The reception to Lori’s first book     [8:15] What happened after she wrote her first book     [11:07] Having resilience to keep going     [15:59] Lori’s next book: Balloons for Tiger     [19:08] No time limit on our dreams     [20:35] Lori’s kids’ reactions to her book     [22:09] Lori’s daughter’s fundraising endeavor     [27:08] Planting the seeds for a dream     [28:19] Lessons for kids     [30:24] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES: Lori’s Facebook Lori’s  Instagram Lori’s Website Lori's Store - Chasing Dreams discount code through 12/31/2020: "chasingdreams" Watch the Episode on YouTube   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: My book is not just for short people, but for anyone who is bullied or singled out for a physical feature. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams I needed a passion to write about something that was impacting my family. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams The things that make us different are the things that make us special. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams I wanted my two daughters to see me follow through and not quit. @loriorlinskyauthor #chasingdreams

My guest today proves that you’re never “too far in” to make a pivot and chase your dreams. Even a dream job with a world-renowned company can leave you feeling unfulfilled if you aren’t living in the authenticity of what you were meant to do. Join us to hear her inspiring story. Lynnette Phillips is a passionate leader, certified LPS facilitator, speaker, author, and live-your-best-life enthusiast. Having worked almost two decades with the Walt Disney Company, one of the world’s most recognized brands, Lynnette combines the art of storytelling with the magic-making of hospitality. Through the years, Lynnette enhanced her practical experience at the Walt Disney World Resort with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Executive Coaching from Regent University. In 2019 Lynnette co-authored It’s Possible: A Dreamers Manifesto to Overcome Opposition, a collection of inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles. When away from work and the world of clients, Lynnette is grateful for time spent reading, cooking, traveling, or creating the most magical memories with her husband and children. “Empower Your Possibility” How do you approach new things? Lynnette named her coaching business Empower Your Possibility because she is passionate about each challenge that comes her way. There is no “wrong” experience to have. Everything you try is a new opportunity to make something happen, which is the meaning behind the word empower. Each of us has the responsibility to serve others, so Lynnette teaches her clients to find their purpose because someone out there is waiting on you to fulfill your dream. Others are depending on you! Someone needs your school of thought and what you’ve prepared to do through every up and down on your life’s path so far. TWEET: Each of us has the responsibility to serve others. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams A 17-year journey If you worked for a company that is the “dream employer” for many people around the world, would you have the courage to leave? This was the dilemma for Lynnette. She signed up for a six-month internship with the Walt Disney Company at age 21, and she fell in love with the entire experience. She opened new resorts, managed project initiatives, and ran departments. The company allowed her to grow and develop other leaders and then move to make her pivot. After 17 years with Disney, she was at an intersection when COVID-19 showed up and furloughed her. The journey into coaching allowed her to explore additional ways to serve others more fully. Lynnette took what she calls a “purposeful pause” to fully commit to the pivot, and the driving force behind the pivot was knowing that her life still held unexplored territory. TWEET: Sometimes it’s necessary to take a “purposeful pause”. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams Doing it on her own terms Are you stuck in things that don’t bring you joy? Lynnette says to look at the things you are really good at doing and move outside the things that don’t bring joy. Focus on your self-development to create a new reality. Lynnette wants to conquer the new opportunities and possibilities available to her as she explores life. With every breath, she looks for new ways to show up and serve others. You don’t have to give up certain things to ensure that your dreams come true. Lynnette hasn’t given up anything to do what she loves, but she’s living the most authentic and connected version of herself in pure joy. TWEET: Look at the things you are really good at doing and move outside the things that don’t bring joy. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Don’t take for granted the notes you’ve taken throughout your life. Go back and revisit those ideas to see what might be there for you.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [:25] Young Lynnette’s dreams     [3:40] Every experience is a new opportunity     [6:50] A sexy question     [8:30] Lynnette’s journey with Disney     [15:41] The secret to knowing what to do next     [22:20] Testing out something new     [25:00] The pressure to imitate someone else     [29:14] Going against the grain     [33:16] Doing it on her own terms     [36:48] A joy that others can see     [42:15] ONE action for a dream chaser Resources: Lynnette’s Instagram Lynnette’s LinkedIn Lynnette’s Website Watch the Episode on YouTube   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: I learned to pivot before it became the cool word of 2020. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams I took a purposeful pause to commit fully to the pivot I was making. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams Happiness is fleeting, but joy is finding the purpose even in the pain. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams With every breath in my body, I want to look for new ways to show up and serve others. @lynnettetphillips #chasingdreams

There are so many things we can learn from hearing the experiences of others. Today’s show is packed full of wisdom from valuable life lessons as a previous guest returns to share more of his story. Join us! Chris Stevenson, former Power Ranger stuntman, is the founder of Stevenson Consulting. Chris’s current focus is helping businesses and entrepreneurs of all types maximize their potential. His expertise stems from his past hands-on experience in all aspects of the health club industry. For almost 20 years, Chris and his team successfully owned and operated Stevenson Fitness, a full-service boutique health club in Southern California. The club’s success was based on providing an unparalleled member experience centered on proper staffing, systematic operations, and world-class leadership. This success was reflected in the club’s NPS, which was consistently in the 90s (the industry average is in the 40s). Chris recently founded Be Military Fit California to bring the world-renowned brand to the US. Be Military Fit is the world leader in military fitness and outdoor training. Chris is an international speaker who regularly presents at IDEA, IHRSA, Club Industry, and other fitness and business events. He sits on the IHRSA board of directors and the Customer Engagement Academy. From health and wellness to business strategies, Chris has the unique ability to connect with people instantaneously and to present viable, applicable lectures that resonate with every audience. Young Chris’s dreams Do you have a dream you’ve chased since childhood? From the time Chris was very young, the field of martial arts has been his passion. He left all other sports behind to focus on his training, and his dream was always to run his own martial arts school. The martial arts belt system taught him to set goals to accomplish his dreams. He learned the value of having a mentor, the value of trust, and how to listen and learn from an instructor. Chris began with Tae Kwon Do and then branched into other martial arts disciplines, and finally into boxing to hone his hand skills. He stayed busy with college classes while teaching martial arts, but pivoted after college to take time to have fun and enjoy life in CA, where he still lives today. Chris lives with no regrets because his choices back then brought him where he is today. TWEET: The choices Chris has made has brought him where he is today. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams Controlling your stress response How do you handle stress? Chris explains that some people struggle with mindfulness and mental health because of how our stress response is wired, which is the same way our ancestors responded when they were trying to get food and not be eaten as food. Our minds are automatically wired to defend ourselves, so we instinctively fall into a negative “fight or flight” response to everything. We have to train our brains to respond differently and react more positively. Even the simple act of deep breathing can have a huge effect as we engage our controllable nervous system to offset our natural instincts. TWEET: The simple act of deep breathing can have a huge effect on our mindset. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams The best lessons learned What are the best life lessons you’ve learned? Through Chris’s varied experiences, he’s learned many lessons. While running a martial arts studio, he learned that he could accomplish anything he put his mind to if he committed to working hard enough. Another lesson was when he learned not to let other people dictate his emotions and reactions. The important thing is to be aware and flip the reaction so we don’t give other people control. He learned another important lesson about holding grudges. The truth is that grudges only hurt the people who hold them--so, let them go! Another problem is that we encounter more negative influences as we age, and we become conservative and afraid to take chances. We should never lose the excitement of taking a risk. TWEET: Grudges only hurt the people who hold them, so let them go! @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Crystallize your dreams. Set up your goals and dig deeper for your WHY. Figure out your core purpose and build a plan.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [:20]        Young Chris’s dreams of martial arts     [3:15]         What builds you as a person     [5:49]        Why Chris pivoted     [8:13]        Living with no regrets     [11:01]     Chris’s tagline: education, empowerment, and encouragement     [15:35]     Anxiety is controllable     [18:44]     My life, my choices     [22:55]     Chris’s path to Power Ranger and beyond     [31:32[     The best lessons learned     [40:56]     ONE action for a dream chaser Resources: Chris’s Facebook Chris’s Twitter Chris’s Instagram Chris’s LinkedIn Stevenson Consulting Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Understanding the science behind our stress can change everything. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams It’s easy to look back and have regrets, but that path is what brought me where I am today. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams Negativity hits us harder than positivity. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams Grudges only hurt the people who hold them. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams I decided a long time ago that only 10% of my time would go to things I feel obligated to do. @thechrisstevenson #chasingdreams

Today’s show is about embracing creativity and purpose on the pathway to chasing your dreams. My guest proves that there are multiple ways to craft a life of service to others, even when creativity is your passion. Clara Thomson is 26 years old, and she’s starting her journey as a pediatric resident physician. She enjoys finding ways that medicine can connect to other industries and the arts. Clara’s passion for music while finishing medical school culminated in creating her album, Chasing Dreams, which is out now on all platforms. Clara describes herself as an extroverted introvert who is learning to embrace her imperfections. She has decided that it’s perfectly acceptable to have multiple passions and chase your dreams, even as you prepare for the rollercoaster ride that is life. Her pseudonym is CallMeClarity, a spinoff of her name. Finding fulfillment in music Where does music fit into your life? Being of Indian heritage means your parents hold aspirations of the most “worthy” professions for you. Even though Clara’s parents never pushed her to be something she didn’t want to do, being a doctor was always in the back of her mind. She knew from a young age that her love of science would lead her into medicine and that her love of the arts would play a prominent dual role in her life. Clara soaked up knowledge about musical instruments and singing, and these endeavors helped her come out of her shell as she created new music. Clara recently used her songwriting and producing talents to partner with a nonprofit that helps children with life-threatening illnesses. TWEET: Being a doctor was always in the back of her mind from a young age. @callmeclarity #chasingdreams The ups and downs How do you handle the “downs” in life? Even at her young age, Clara has learned that ups and downs are a part of life and a part of every person’s journey. She learned firsthand that everything doesn’t always work out in ideal ways. Being a “chaser” means that you go after dreams and goals with your whole self to see if those things are meant for you, but you know that everything isn’t sunshine and rainbows. Clara’s advice is to give it your all, but realize that there is a risk in chasing every dream. You may not achieve what you envision, but the process will help you build new strength and resilience. TWEET: Ups and downs are a part of life and a part of every person’s journey. @callmeclarity #chasingdreams When the doubters come How do you react when people doubt you? The people closest to Clara knew her potential even when she may have doubted herself. Friends and family members have been supportive and encouraging of Clara’s dreams, but she realizes that this may not always be the case. At times along the way, there will always be those who don’t resonate as strongly with what you’re trying to do--and that’s OK. Pleasing everyone is not the goal, and you can’t lose sight of your goals because of what someone else might say. Clara says that you never know how much you can do if you keep on going--so keep on going! TWEET: Along the way, there will always be those who don’t resonate as strongly with what you’re trying to do--and that’s OK. @callmeclarity #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Just take a moment to write down what you are truly passionate about, then check back a few months later to see if it resonates with you.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [2:41] Young Clara’s dreams [6:49] A left turn toward music [12:02] Clara’s album, Chasing Dreams [13:55] Being a chaser [16:33] The journey to fulfillment through uncertainty [22:13] Feedback from others [28:27] Clara’s plans for her career [33:57] Clara’s musical inspirations [40:50] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Clara's Website Clara's Instagram Clara's LinkedIn Clara Thomson on Spotify Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: “The greatest failure is the failure to try.” @callmeclarity #chasingdreams Being a doctor was always in the back of my mind. @callmeclarity #chasingdreams I love connecting with people, but I definitely need my time to myself. @callmeclarity #chasingdreams Chasing dreams is a process that’s about the journey to the end result. @callmeclarity #chasingdreams

Persuasion is not a word we hear often, but the reality is that we all find ourselves in acts of persuasion throughout each day. We use persuasive tactics in our interactions with family, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers without even realizing it. If you want to be more persuasive, empathetic, generous, and understanding in your relationships, you don’t want to miss today’s show. Jason Harris is CEO of the award-winning creative agency, Mekanism, co-founder of the Creative Alliance, and author of the national bestseller, The Soulful Art of Persuasion. Jason works closely with brands through a blend of soul and science to create provocative campaigns that engage audiences. Jason has been named in the Top Ten Most Influential Social Impact Leaders, as well as the 4A’s list of “100 People Who Make Advertising Great.” His methods are so effective that they are studied in cases at Harvard Business School.  How to stand out in business Do you need a different approach to your business? Jason’s book contains a unique approach, and the feedback he’s received shows that people have responded well to his ideas. Many have adopted Jason’s actionable principles and turned them into action steps for their own success. Jason doesn’t just state abstract theories for people to follow, but he gives habits and examples to be put into practice that can truly make a difference. The book is original and authentic in every way, which stays true to Jason’s values. He explains that to stand out in your business, you have to lead with originality and vulnerability.  TWEET: Turn actionable principles into action steps for success! @jason_harris #chasingdreams Live with generosity Are you a generous person? What Jason means by leading a life of generosity is to give something away with every interaction and to leave someone better off for having crossed paths with you. Advising, counseling, and sharing can all be part of generosity as you let someone know that you are thinking of them and care about their interests. Generosity can be shown in giving a gift to someone, but Jason challenges people to think of it in less tangible ways. He explains how it’s been the hardest thing for him to learn, but being generous has helped him be successful because people are drawn to generous people. These “things” you give away will come back to you with compounded interest. Being open enough to ask for favors and help is another form of generosity, as demonstrated by the Ben Franklin effect, which Jason explains in detail.  TWEET: Give something away with every interaction and leave someone better off for having crossed paths with you. @jason_harris #chasingdreams What the world needs now is . . . empathy Would you call yourself an empathetic person? Even though, as humans, we are 99.9% the same as each other, empathy seems to be in very short supply in today’s world. Empathy is developing a natural curiosity for others, along with listening and understanding people more. We don’t often know and understand the micro experiences that contribute to people’s beliefs and opinions about certain issues. Once we know their back story, we can better understand why they think or act the way they do. That is empathy, and it takes more time and effort than judging people quickly and painting everyone with a broad brush. Jason explains that another part of empathy involves collaboration, which is reaching out to others and asking for help when you need it.  TWEET: Once we know someone’s back story, we can better understand why they think or act the way they do. @jason_harris #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action step for a dream chaser to take-”Be a dream chaser.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [0:04] Jason’s book and his viewpoint on persuasion [4:00] The reception to Jason’s book [9:57] The importance of the stories within us [15:10] The importance of generosity [18:45] The Ben Franklin effect [21:37] The principle of empathy [30:09] We don’t hear to listen [31:02] Soulfulness [39:02] The writing experience [41:38] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Jason’s Twitter Jason’s Instagram Jason’s LinkedIn For a Sneak Peek of Jason’s Book: The Soulful Art of Persuasion Purchase The Soulful Art of Persuasion on Amazon! Watch the Episode on YouTube  TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Storytelling is part of being an original person. @jason_harris #chasingdreams  We are all in moments and acts of persuasion all day long. @jason_harris #chasingdreams  You can learn the principles of being a master influencer by repeating them. @jason_harris #chasingdreams To be successful in business, you have to let your uniqueness and vulnerability stand out. @jason_harris #chasingdreams

Most people long for love. Some are successful in the search, and others feel that true love is just not in the cards for them. The truth is that you have to love yourself before you can love someone else and be loved in a fulfilling way. If that sounds too abstract to comprehend, then join us for today’s show--and learn what you can do to bring more love into your life.  Veronica Grant is a love coach for successful women who feel like they have it all except love, and she helps them find it. Through her binge-worthy podcast, free workshops, and coaching, Veronica is committed to shaking up how you find love, even in our “swipe right, swipe left” world. Some of her guilty pleasures (a must-have for recovering perfectionists!) include binge-watching HGTV, hiking with her husband and pup, and sushi everything. Join us to meet Veronica and clear what's blocking you in love! Making a pivot Have you felt the nudge to make a big change in your life? Veronica looks back to her time as a paid staffer on the Obama campaign in 2012. Her work consumed every moment of her life and turned her into a monster. She realized later, as she worked herself to misery in a job in DC, that she could not allow herself to stay in that world any longer. Looking back, she sees that these experiences led to the turning point that spurred her to other things, like starting her own business. Too many people let guilt convince them to stay in a miserable situation much longer than they should, and they use every excuse to justify their misery. Veronica realizes the big pivot she made was necessary to regain her sanity and wellbeing.  TWEET: Don’t let guilt convince you to stay in a miserable situation longer than you should. @veronicaegrant #chasingdreams Why a Love Coach? Does someone really need a love coach? While Veronica’s work IS about dating and finding that special someone, it really isn’t. Her work is all about the personal development and self-love of her client. She is more concerned about how someone treats themselves when they are frustrated, rejected, sad, and lonely. Those feelings are part of life’s path, but they shouldn’t factor into how you perceive your lovability and what you deserve in life. While she can’t prevent the inevitable heartbreaks for her clients, she doesn’t want that experience to change the story they tell themselves about their self-worth.  TWEET: Heartbreak doesn’t have to change the story you tell yourself about your self-worth. @veronicaegrant #chasingdreams Your inner child and your self-worth What was your inner child taught about love? Self-worth is tied to what we have been conditioned to believe about how and why we are loved. Most girls are conditioned with clear messaging that they will be more successful in love if they are skinny and attractive. We all want love, safety, and belonging, so we listen to the messages from the adults in our lives, especially those that tie body image to love and happiness. The little girl in you has to be reparented in the subconscious to heal that wound. Old beliefs have to be reprogrammed, and we have to be gentle around our thoughts to create a more positive headspace. Practice will create habit change.  TWEET: We have to be gentle around our thoughts to create a more positive headspace. @veronicaegrant #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”No technique or tool will help you see change if you still beat yourself up. Be kind and compassionate to yourself.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [:50] Young Veronica’s dreams [3:25] From astronaut dreams to life coach [8:10] Enough is enough [13:00] Life coach to love coach [18:05] What is a love coach? [23:00] How we build self-worth and self-love [29:58] Healing your inner child [32:42] Where to start with healing [39:25] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Veronica’s Instagram Veronica’s Website Workshop: The 5-Step Strategy To Banish Anxiety and Overwhelm in Your Love Life Veronica’s Podcast Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: When you’re more vulnerable, you’re more yourself and more able to connect with the right people. @veronicaegrant #chasingdreams I realized that my relationship to body image was closely related to my dating and relationship history. @veronicaegrant #chasingdreams Healing my relationship with food healed my relationship with love, dating, and intimacy. @veronicaegrant #chasingdreams

In these challenging times, gratitude has become more important than ever. A gratitude practice is one tool that is free of charge and equally accessible to people of all races, genders, ethnicities, and economic status. Gratitude has the ability to bring positivity to any situation and give your mindset an instant boost! Geoffrey Blake (GB) describes himself as a grateful human. He’s an introvert who plays an extrovert when it's necessary. He's toured internationally with his band, co-founded a non-profit, been a successful personal trainer for over a decade, and now his main focus is a global movement toward gratitude as the founder of the Global Gratitude Jar. The great connector Why focus on gratitude? GB had an unshakeable feeling early in his life that he would be part of the positive change in the world. The change happens when we see the good in ourselves, the good in others, and how much alike we really are. Geoffrey views a gratitude practice as an entry-level activity to bring about change and connect people--and anyone can participate. He sees himself as an encourager to help people form and establish a habit every day that can contribute to positivity and overall mental health.  TWEET:  Change happens when we see the good in ourselves. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams Try JOLT Where do we start with a gratitude practice? GB says to start with a warm memory from the past, which is easy to find, even if your “gratitude muscle” isn’t developed enough to sense what you’re grateful for in the present. The key is JOLT: “Just one little thing.” Find one small thing to be grateful for every day, and you’ll grow into a more detailed gratitude practice. GB uses simplistic prompts to get people to think about the miracles in everyday life. Nothing is too small or insignificant for which to be grateful. He points out that in his Facebook group, someone’s gratitude is not up for judgment or comment; they are allowed to own it in whatever way they choose.  TWEET: Find one small thing to be grateful for every day, and you’ll grow into a more detailed gratitude practice. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams You hold the power How does your positivity affect others? GB says that gratitude has a domino effect as it tips in the direction of sunshine. A simple smile, comment, or show of appreciation has immense power to change someone’s day and bring sunshine. Gratitude helps you bring positivity and your best to every situation, even the difficult ones. We hold the power to change someone’s day and make a positive impression just by looking for opportunities for connection. He explains how he looks to tell his mentors how they have impacted his success, and now he passes that encouragement along to those he mentors.  TWEET: Gratitude has a domino effect as it tips in the direction of sunshine. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Commit to 30 days of gratitude with the JOLT method. The next step is to join our Facebook group, Global Gratitude Jar.”  OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [:15] An intro to Global Gratitude [3:20] GB’s motivation to gratitude [5:21] How gratitude contributes to mental health [10:04] How to start a gratitude practice [14:42] Young GB’s awareness of gratitude [19:58] The effect of gratitude early in life [23:20] The impact of our gratitude on others [27:16] The domino effect of gratitude [31:06] Being impactful in life [33:54] ONE action for a dream chaser [35:36] Get to know GB better RESOURCES MENTIONED: GB’s Facebook GB’s Twitter GB’s Article: Gratitude While the World is Burning GB’s Email  Watch the Episode on YouTube   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: In six months, Global Gratitude Jar has grown from a 30-member community to 470. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams I wouldn’t be navigating these challenging times with as much grace if not for my gratitude practice. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams Social media makes us think life should be full of peaks, but the truth is that there are peaks and valleys along life’s journey. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams The goal of Global Gratitude is to turn the gratitude practice into a reflex. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams We need to teach kids to refine their sight to see the good and joyful things in the world. @GBGeoffreyBlake #chasingdreams

We are all drawn to authentic people. We appreciate the inspiration and empowerment that spillover from those who dare to live authentic lives. Today’s show will encourage you to boot those limiting beliefs to the curb and live a life of authentic connection as you chase your dreams.  Erin Hatzikostas spent her career “first half” working in the corporate world, where at the age of 42, she became the CEO of a $2 billion healthcare financial institution. In just three years, she tripled earnings and sent employee engagement skyrocket. Just when things were booming, she decided to walk away so that she could help solve what truly breaks her heart: the immense lack of authenticity and happiness in Corporate America. Through her company, b Authentic inc, Erin is provoking authenticity and enabling an army of people to crush their careers without compromising everything else. Erin is a career coach, prolific speaker, and edutainer. She also co-hosts an offbeat career and leadership podcast called b CAUSE with Erin & Nicole. The “sucky songs” we sing What are the hurdles to being authentic? Erin says the common thread is the “sucky songs” we tell ourselves. That’s her way of identifying the limiting beliefs and deep-rooted negativity that stop us. These beliefs may make sense in our minds, but they don’t feel right. Erin digs into these hurdles with clients to make them understand how they can inspire others. She teaches that inspiration is not a “river that runs in only one direction,” meaning that your authenticity can inspire those above AND below you. TWEET: Inspiration is not a river that runs in only one direction. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams A new authenticity How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your authenticity? We see a new wave of authenticity as we interact with our bosses and coworkers in new and different ways than before. Erin says the challenge when we get through the pandemic will be in keeping the good parts of the new authentic environment and not slipping back into old habits, and she believes these changes will ultimately benefit women in the workplace. She gives examples of connections she’s made over Zoom during quarantine that wouldn’t have come about under normal circumstances. Erin reminds us that we have to plug into other people’s authenticity while realizing that our own version of authenticity is always changing. Keep in mind that it’s in discomfort that we grow the best. TWEET: Realize that our own version of authenticity is always changing. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams Your brand of authenticity How do you figure out what YOUR authenticity is? Erin says we need to listen to who and what other people say we are. Family background also plays into the development of our authenticity in growing our core values and discerning our purpose. Erin breaks it down by using the fourfold Japanese concept of ikigai, which shows what you’re good at, what you love to do, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. She reminds us that doing what you love and getting paid don’t have to be mutually exclusive; they can be correlated.  TWEET: Listen to who and what other people say we are. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Get curious. Just start with one thing.” OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [1:59] How Erin became authentic [7:42] The struggle to be authentic [10:20] Inspiration comes from many directions [11:33] How we’re connected as human beings [14:48] The aftermath of COVID, growth, and new mindsets [19:40] Why we have to ask questions [20:57] What your authenticity is [24:15] What it means to be authentic [27:40] How to change--at any age [31:59] ONE action for a dream chaser [32:03] Get to know Erin better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Erin’s Facebook Erin’s Twitter Erin’s Instagram Erin’s LinkedIn b Authentic inc b Brilliant - Career Coaching Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE:  Development demands discomfort. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams At the end of the day, what inspires people is how you live out your authenticity. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams COVID-19 has been a tailwind for authenticity. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams You don’t have to choose between doing what you love and getting paid for it. @ErinHatzikostas @b_authentic_inc #chasingdreams

If you’re stuck in a place without passion and purpose in life, then today’s show is for you. You might not think that someone can pivot from being an actress to a lawyer to the sweet world of baked goods, but today’s guest proves that it is possible! It’s never too late to chase your dreams and create the happiness you deserve! Jessie Sheehan is a cookbook author, food writer, recipe developer, and baker. She is the author of The Vintage Baker, (2018, Chronicle Books), which was named one of the Washington Post’s best cookbooks of 2018 and is beloved by Oprah, Nigella Lawson, Gail Simmons, and more. Jessie is also the co-author of Icebox Cakes (2015, Chronicle Books). The thing that drew Jessie in How many people start out in one profession before finding their niche in something completely different? It happens more often than you might think. Baking was the thing that drew Jessie in after she explored other unrelated professions. She grew up in a “foodie” family that loved experimenting with delicious foods, and there was a great reverence for sweets. As a new mom baking at home, she found that it was something she loved, even though she had no formal training. Getting a job at a bakery put Jessie doing menial tasks like bagging granola, and then her superiors saw that she was in it for the long haul. A journey of learning from others and growing her knowledge and skillset gave her the opportunity to progress to other duties, and she proved herself by being a hard worker and a fast learner.  TWEET: Learning from others and growing your skillset brings new opportunities. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams Finding what she was supposed to do Do you look back on your journey with regret? Jessie looks back and sometimes wishes that she had just started out by going to pastry school instead of pursuing other passions like being an actress and a lawyer. Her training process happened on the job at the bakery, and she knows there are gaps in her knowledge that pastry school would have filled. She also realizes that if she hadn’t taken the long journey to discover her passion for baking, then she might not have the same appreciation for what she is accomplishing each day.  TWEET: Don’t look back on your journey with regret. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams The balance between accomplishments and goals How do you find a balance between the accomplishments of the past and the goals of the future? As Jessie contemplates the trajectory of her career, she’s pleased and grateful for what she’s accomplished and the cookbooks she’s helped create, but she still wants to do more. In enjoying the moment and feeling pride in accomplishments, there is a balance with looking toward the future and wondering what wonderful things might be around the corner. Way back when, Jessie was a young mom looking for an interesting job to fill a few hours away from her home and her kids, so she began packing and sealing bags of granola at the bakery. Now she develops recipes, writes cookbooks, and makes national media appearances with her baking skills.  TWEET: Find balance between past accomplishments and future goals. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Hustle, hustle, hustle. Keep going after what it is that you want.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [:50] What teenage Jessie wanted to be [10:18] Making the jump to baker 12:43] The learning curve [16:47] Finding the “sweet” spot [19:48] Becoming a recipe developer [24:01] Jessie’s cookbooks [29:34] If it hadn’t worked out . . . [32:04] How things have turned out for Jessie [33:55] Advice for those starting out in a career [35:06] ONE action for a dream chaser [36:19] Get to know Jessie better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Jessie’s Instagram Jessie’s Website Jessie’s TikTok The Vintage Baker: More Than 50 Recipes from Butterscotch Pecan Curls to Sour Cream Jumbles (Mid Century Cookbook, Gift for Bakers, Americana Recipe Book) by Jessie Sheehan Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: I showed that I was a hard worker and a fast learner, even though I wasn’t the most skilled worker. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams It’s not helpful to look back and regret the choices you made. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams I realized that I like structure, but I’m much happier when I’m pursuing something creative. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams Right now, I’m doing exactly what I was meant to do. @jessiesheehanbakes #chasingdreams

No one has a perfect life. We each have negative experiences from our past that have helped shape the person we are today. There is a difference, however, in how we respond to those tough challenges. Some people allow those circumstances to define them, and they can never seem to move past them. Others are able to change their perspective and use difficulties to strengthen them and propel them into the future. I’ll let you guess which category best describes today’s guest.  As a teenager, Michael Arterberry was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure. Michael is the author of Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement, a daily motivational book. Additional information about his struggles as a child and a debilitating spinal cord injury as an adult can be found in his wife's book, God Was Holding My Hand. **Please be advised that a brief sexual assault/molestation reference occurs in this episode. If you are triggered by this, please check for details about skipping over it as you listen.  A positive mindset Is it possible to overcome extreme difficulties and develop a positive mindset? The answer is YES! Despite a horrific childhood, Michael was determined to create a positive mindset. A big part of that was his relationship with God, and in addition, athletic endeavors became his respite. He didn’t think of playing sports as “therapy” at the time, but that’s what took place as he reflects on his years in school. He played basketball, baseball, football, and soccer, and he was able to channel all of his energy from his family challenges to “play like a wild man.” Having a healthy outlet for his frustrations helped fuel his positive mindset, along with his determination and resilience. TWEET: Having a healthy outlet for frustration helps fuel a positive mindset. #chasingdreams Getting results How does Michael’s youth program produce the desired results? As he goes into schools around the country, his two-day program helps young people recognize the land mines in their stories and the damage they didn’t even know they had sustained. He teaches them to revisit those painful places but know that they can’t stay there if they want to move forward. Michael shares examples of kids who were wounded deeply; some go on to have miraculous healing journeys, and some choose to go in other tragic directions. Besides his youth program, Michael created his book of motivation and encouragement to help even more people. TWEET: You can’t stay in the painful places if you want to move forward. #chasingdreams Feeling lost Where do you turn when you feel lost? Michael likens feeling “lost” in life to going through a shipwreck and finding the broken pieces that are left---and holding onto them. He says to take those broken pieces and change your perspective. He warns us to be careful to not “drown in the shallow water,” but to stand up and walk on. The only constant in life is change, so look at 2020’s challenges as a time in which we’ve all felt lost in some way. Again, change your perspective and move forward.  TWEET: Be careful not to drown in the shallow water. #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Narrow down your dream to what will make you happy, not what will give you the biggest paycheck.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [2:01] What young Michael wanted to be [11:31] How Michael developed a positive mindset [14:40] How Michael started his non-profit [18:40] The results of Michael’s program  [24:36] Why Michael wrote his book [29:41] The importance of self-reflection [33:07] When you’re feeling lost [39:08] The value of listening [41:28] Why we need to live conscious lives [46:41] How you can “check-in” on others [47:44] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Michael’s Facebook Michael’s LinkedIn Michael’s Website Shake the Dirt Experience Youth Voices Center Inc. Be Encouraged: 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement by Michael Arterberry  God Was Holding My Hand by Rachel Arterberry  Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: People think that busy=progress, and that’s false. I realized I had a gift for making young people feel comfortable. When I work with young people, I disarm them by being transparent from “Hello.”

I’m excited to introduce you to a new friend that I met at a conference last October. If your life feels out of balance and out of whack, then this is the show for you. You’ll learn how to take action steps to become a more empowered and grounded person no matter what obstacles you face.  Melanie C. Klein, M.A., is a sought-after empowerment coach and respected thought leader in the areas of authentic empowerment, visibility, and body confidence. She is also a successful writer, speaker, and Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies. With over two decades of professional and personal work, Melanie integrates her background in mindfulness and embodied wisdom with her academic expertise and advocacy work. In this way, she offers a holistic and unique pathway to personal freedom and prosperity, one that is customized to each individual.  How to thrive How do you meet new challenges? Melanie explains that mindset and a sense of self are two keys to thriving during a challenging time like going through a global pandemic. We know from this point forward, our new normal will become normal. To be empowered, we have to be deeply rooted in ourselves and discerning about helpful conversations and decisions, along with being conscious of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The biggest, brightest expressions of ourselves aren’t dependent on external circumstances. The key question to ask is, “How am I approaching this?” It all comes down to mindset, so try to view each obstacle as a new opportunity. TWEET: Try to view each obstacle as a new opportunity. @melmelklein #chasingdreams Making your own choices Are you honest with yourself? Times like these give us time and space to consider things we’ve overlooked in the past. When we’re forced into a slow-down mode, we have time to rest deeply and make informed decisions. We have to decide when to lean out and when to lean in. It’s essential to pay attention to your inner compass and become comfortable with yourself in this “dance of existence.” Melanie explains how to know when to flow and when to create more of a container for yourself. TWEET: Slow-down mode gives us time to rest deeply and make informed decisions. @melmelklein #chasingdreams The two M’s: meditation and mindfulness What was your explosive moment? Melanie recalls the eye-opening experience of a class she took years ago that allowed her to understand more fully the systems and structures in the world. It helped her decide what her life’s work would be in what she calls “an explosive and liberating moment.” Soon after, she discovered yoga--way before yoga was cool. Pairing yoga with meditation has helped her develop a critical consciousness in the world, which has been fortified by her mindfulness practices. After more than 20 years of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, Melanie still turns to these practices daily to find balance in her life.  TWEET: Melanie discovered yoga way before yoga was cool @melmelklein #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Get honest with yourself. Take ownership and accountability for what you do, and be completely real about what you want.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [2:10] A return to what kind of normal? [8:57] Melanie’s advice about handling challenges [15:35] Don’t conform to the standards of others [19:19] Getting comfortable with your own choices [24:52] Is now the time? [26:21] The value of meditation and mindfulness [33:12] Limiting social media and notifications [38:35] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Melanie’s Facebook Melanie’s Instagram Melanie’s Website Purchase or Preview Yoga Rising! Purchase or Preview Yoga and Body Image! Yoga & Body Image Coalition Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: A lot of people in our culture aren’t comfortable with any kind of pause or downtime. @melmelklein #chasingdreams You have to learn when to lean in and when to lean out in your dance of existence. @melmelklein #chasingdreams Acknowledge where you are in this moment and discern what you need right now. Look at each obstacle as a new opportunity. @melmelklein #chasingdreams

Many dream chasers start with a bang, but they falter in their purpose when obstacles and challenges come. We might let other people derail us, or our own limiting beliefs, or we give up on our dream simply because the going gets tough. If you’ve ever been tempted to quit--to give up on your dream--then you can’t miss today’s show.  Sourena Vasseghi was born with cerebral palsy, and he now faces life with a severe speech impediment and is bound to a wheelchair. He has defied the odds to become ”The writer who cannot write and the speaker who cannot speak.” Sourena is an inspirational and motivational presenter, an award-winning author, and the owner and founder of The Sourena V. Group. Together with his stage partner, Chris Stevenson, Sourena speaks and produces content dealing with motivation, achieving goals, mindset, and working around challenges to reach amazing success.  A mindset to succeed Who gave you your mindset? Sourena quickly attributes his mindset to his parents. When he was growing up, they never acted like cerebral palsy was a big deal, and they refused to let Sourena act like a victim. His parents told him he could have a good life, and they treated him like he was no different than other kids. It was only when he reached the end of high school that he realized that he couldn’t be independent and mobile like other kids going off to college. Because he still had big plans and dreams, he didn’t let that stop him from figuring out how to make his life work. Sourena has never viewed himself as an overcomer because he can’t “overcome” his handicap; he is just a man who has figured out how to deal with his challenges with the right mindset--and that’s the key. TWEET: Dealing with challenges with the right mindset is key. @SourenaV #chasingdreams Motivation and purpose What drives you? Sourena says that experiences are what drives him. He wants to experience everything he can in this life, and he plans not to let his handicap be what drives him. He enlisted the help of Chris, a fitness trainer, to be a translator and speaker when he gives keynote presentations. Chris says that Sourena has “a lockdown mindset,” refusing to let his handicap stop him. Sourena wants to show everyone how to deal with their challenges so they can accomplish anything. A big lesson he teaches people is that your mindset isn’t fixed, but it can change every day as we rewrite our narrative in new directions.  TWEET: Every day, we can rewrite our narrative in new directions. @SourenaV #chasingdreams How we think What controls your thinking? Are your thoughts controlled by logic or emotions? As humans, we are wired for safety. We are wired not to take chances and not to get “eaten” out in the world; we are wired for pure survival. Sourena says that we don’t pay attention to our “emotional diet” like we do our physical diet. We tend to dwell on negative thoughts and fear. When we saturate our minds with bad news, we have to do other things to fortify our emotional diet in positive ways, like taking walks outside, spending time with people we love, and reading books. Chris echoes Sourena’s words by saying that fear comes from the unknown, from something we can’t control, or from the feeling that we aren’t worthy. The key to overcoming fear is to reach out for support. TWEET: Fortify your emotional diet in positive ways. @SourenaV #chasingdreams OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [2:17] Sourena’s mindset [4:32] How Sourena deals with challenges [7:36] Sourena’s college journey to USC [9:51] Sourena’s motivation and purpose [13:16] Common themes that cause people to struggle [19:07] Emotional thinking vs. logical thinking [24:07] The most inspiring thing about Sourena--from Chris [26:15] How Sourena addresses limiting beliefs [33:37] Why Sourena and Chris are happy with their lives today [35:27] Get to know Sourena and Chris better Sourena’s Facebook Sourena’s Twitter Sourena’s Instagram Sourena’s LinkedIn Sourena’s Website sourenav.com/inspire - For Sourena's eBook "5 Keys to an Amazing Mindset"  Big Dreams Take Small Sacrifices by Sourena Vasseghi Connect with Chris Stevenson -- chris@stevensonempowers.com Watch The Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE:  There are challenges you’ll never overcome, but you have to develop the right mind to face them each day. @SourenaV #chasingdreams I always love life, and I didn’t want my handicap to dictate my dreams. @SourenaV #chasingdreams Reaching out for support is the biggest key in dealing with fear. @SourenaV #chasingdreams Happiness and optimism are choices you make. @SourenaV #chasingdreams We aren’t wired for success, but we are wired to stay safe. @SourenaV #chasingdreams

Our world has changed a lot in the past few weeks. These changes have been unimaginable, and with those, there is a new emphasis on mental health. If you’re looking for ways to manage and alleviate the anxiety and overwhelm that we all experience, then today’s show is for you. Dr. Kevin Gilliland, Psy. D. is an expert in mental health, depression, and addiction. He’s the author of Struggle Well, Live Well: 60 Ways to Navigate Life’s Good, Bad, and In-Between. After working for more than two decades in healthcare as a clinical psychologist, Kevin became a pioneer of outpatient treatment as the CEO and Executive Director of Innovation 360, a treatment center for alcohol and drug addiction, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, family therapy, and life development.  What’s going on? How are you handling the stress of living in a pandemic? Stress is hitting many people in their finances and their security, unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. We all have to deal with these unusual circumstances, but it’s significantly worse for those who battle mental health and mood disorders. This trying time is forcing all of us to be mindful in new ways every day. Mental health and wellness are often pushed to the back burner of our lives, but these difficult times are forcing us to prioritize mental health. Kevin explains the proven connection between stress and cardiovascular health, which is another reason to practice stress management techniques.  TWEET: There’s a proven connection between stress and cardiovascular health. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Just breathe Do you practice breathing techniques? Kevin says deep, belly breaths are his #1 recommendation for any dream chaser. Focused breathing elicits the opposite of the “fight or flight” response. It brings a “rest and digest” response, which settles us into a calming mode and redistributes nourishing blood flow throughout the body. Breathing can lower blood pressure to an extent greater than eating right and exercising. Do you need to slow down and calm yourself? Kevin says to try some apps to practice deep breathing--and calm yourself.  TWEET: Focused breathing brings the body a calming “rest and digest” response. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Don’t be plugged in all the time How much time do you spend each day on social media? Watching/listening to the news? There are dangers when we are “plugged in” all the time. Being constantly plugged into social media will lead you to compare yourself to others. Being constantly plugged into the news will cloud your mind with negativity. A little bit of information will decrease anxiety, but too much information will increase anxiety. More is NOT better! Find the sweet spot of getting the right amount of information, but don’t make the mistake of living too much on social media or listening to the news too often. Put boundaries in place, and find ways to manage and evaluate the effects on your mental health.  TWEET: There are dangers when we are “plugged in” all the time. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Practice focused breathing.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [2:25] What’s going on right now in our world? [9:18] How we can help others [12:54] Focus on breathing [18:27] How to do belly breathing [24:37] What should we be doing? [27:40] There’s no ONE way [29:28] Dangers of too much information [35:05] The value of reading [36:57] Kevin’s advice about adapting your dream [40:52] Learn to run with it [42:11] Get to know Kevin RESOURCES MENTIONED: Dr. Kevin’s Instagram Dr. Kevin’s Website Dr. Kevin’s Innovation 360 Struggle Well, Live Well: 60 Ways to Navigate Life’s Good, Bad, and In-Between by Kevin Gilliland  How to do belly (diaphragmatic) breathing Basic Belly Breathing Sesame Street: Common and Colbie Caillat - "Belly Breathe" with Elmo Watch the episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Compare you to you--not to someone else. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Life gets so difficult, and there are times we have to manage it one day at a time. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Focusing on your breath temporarily pauses your overwhelmed brain. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Take care of your equipment---your body and your mind. @dr_keving #chasingdreams Reading will relax your brain in a way that just doesn’t happen when you watch a movie. @dr_keving #chasingdreams

I met today’s guest at a conference in Atlantic City. I quickly found her to be a kindred spirit, as we felt an immediate connection and friendship, despite our different cultural backgrounds. She joins us all the way from her home country of Australia! Samantha Riley left the corporate world and ventured out into the world of business over 25 years ago because she wanted the freedom to spend more time with family to be rewarded for working harder. She has built multiple businesses and grew her first seven-figure business before she was 30 years old. Sam leveraged herself out of her brick and mortar businesses and found herself working less than ten hours each week. Now she has replicated that same system to build her online coaching business, which gives her even more freedom as she’s now location independent. Sam teaches her system to successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and experts, and she helps them develop their thought leadership so they can replace their income, reclaim their time, and lead a more purposeful life.  Taking a big gamble If you landed the safe, stable government job that your family dreamed of for you, would you leave it to jump into the unknown? Many people wouldn’t, but Samantha isn’t like everyone else. Being a ballerina was her childhood passion, consuming her nights and weekends for many years of training. As she reached adulthood, she was told that she’d never make it as a dancer, so she gave in to her passion for teaching and opened a dance studio after her brief two-year stint in the corporate world with a government job. Logic told her to stay in the stable world, but she realized no one around her was happy. She made the decision to take the gamble, leave the corporate stability, and start over, even though she and her husband had two kids and a mortgage at the time. TWEET: Logic told Sam to stay in the stable world, but she realized no one around her was happy. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams Sam’s advice for others What drives you? For Sam, it was her passion for dancing that dominated her business life for 20 years. A split from her first husband put her through a difficult time, so branched into holding retreats around spirituality and health and wellness. She helped people with job troubles and moved into the coaching world. Sam quickly realized that she loved the business end more than delivering the expertise; it was through networking and administrating that enlightenment came to her. She says that the problem is that most people won’t make life-changing decisions until their back is against the wall, mainly because they haven’t acknowledged what they really want out of life.  TWEET: It was through networking and administrating that enlightenment came to her. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams Finding fulfillment Why do so many mothers put everyone else first and themselves last? Sam grew up in a household where she saw her mom always put herself last, and she fell into that same pattern with all the aspects of motherhood. As a result, she became resentful, tired, and unfulfilled. She never took time for herself, choosing instead to be the martyr. It took separating from her husband for her to realize that she COULD do things for herself. That big step has made her life very different now than what it once was. Everything she teaches now is based on what people want out of life and how they can make the choices to get them there.  TWEET: Always putting herself last made Sam feel resentful, tired, and unfulfilled. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”The #1 thing you have to do is to get really clear about what you really want. You can’t create the actions you want to get there until you know what it is that you want.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [2:46] Young Sam’s dreams [5:16]  From dancing into the corporate world [7:16] Taking a big gamble [10:58] Wanting more [14:18] The prevalence of coaches today [22:14] Sam’s advice to coaches and clients [26:34] A moment of enlightenment [27:51] Knowing what you want [30:28] Fill your own cup first [33:32] Some brutal honesty about motherhood [38:30] Sam’s non-traditional life today [42:44] Get to know Sam better [47:48] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Sam’s Facebook Sam’s Twitter Sam’s Instagram Sam’s LinkedIn  Watch The Episode On YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Teaching is in my blood, and I just used the vehicle of dance to get there. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams For us, taking a gamble was more about looking into the future. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams We have to show up and give to ourselves first before we can show up for others. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams As humans, we usually don’t make life-changing decisions until we are way, way past unhappy. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams Social media curates your thoughts, and if you’re not aware of it, it can send you down a dark rabbit hole. @TheSamRiley #chasingdreams

Even though you might not know it, you are a hero, and your life is a hero’s journey. Join us to gain a new perspective on your obstacles, struggles, choices, and victories, and learn why you must embrace the role of a mentor in helping others.  J. Scott MacMillan is an author, filmmaker, and certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming life coach whose work centers around the theory of the Hero’s Journey. Drawing upon the concept’s relatable and inspirational nature, MacMillan has adopted tools to help himself and others over the last 15 years. MacMillan’s coaching business, Hero Life, uses behavioral learning techniques, adult learning theory, and the Hero’s Journey to help people create new patterns and apply critical thinking skills to daily life. Combining his personal life experiences and expertise in psychology, Scott helps people overcome periods of feeling stuck by working through fear and doubt to find their life purpose. His four-step plan is designed to help people reclaim their power, step into their authentic self, and become the hero of their own life.  A full-circle journey Did you know as a young person the path your life would take? Scott says that he had no clue what to do with his life when he was young. After getting a degree in psychology, he pursued a business career but knew he had an uncommon passion to keep learning. Within that passion, he found a knack for helping others get “unstuck” from the ruts in their lives. It took a full-circle journey for him to get where he is today. His theory of life as the Hero’s Journey is a new way to look at life in general, with a new understanding of what someone has experienced in having the courage to move past the fears and move forward.  TWEET: Scott had an uncommon passion to keep learning. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams The Hero’s Journey Do you feel like a hero? Scott explains how a hero’s story resonates with all of us. He came up with 12 stages of the hero’s journey, which correspond to the life story of each person. The first four stages involve preparation for the journey, in which you learn to step out of comfort zones, overcome obstacles, and take risks. The next four stages in the journey are those of honing skills and learning. The last four stages are about finding the treasure and conquering the battle, meaning we’ve learned the lessons. The final stage is to tell our stories to help others--all because of what we’ve experienced.  TWEET: The Hero’s Journey involves 12 stages that correspond to the life story of each person. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams Limiting beliefs What are your limiting beliefs? We all have limiting beliefs, which are the beliefs we create to protect ourselves, like when we say, “I’m not good enough.” We form these beliefs in childhood, and then we use them as armor that we put up as we go through life. We use these limiting beliefs to sabotage our progress as adults. Remember that every limiting belief is a false belief. Scott’s coaching program uses a simple process of identifying, clearing out, and reversing these limiting beliefs. He uses visualization and meditation to lock in the new belief and rewire your brain for success. TWEET: Limiting beliefs sabotage our progress as adults. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Next time you watch a movie, look for the hero’s journey where they jump into the unknown world. Thinking this way will change the way you watch movies.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:19] Young Scott’s dreams [4:09] It’s never too late for a hero’s journey [5:39] The Hero’s Journey [14:44] When the hero becomes a mentor [16:47] The danger of limiting beliefs [19:57] The process of helping people [21:25] The perspective of looking back on your journey [25:45] Tips for the journey [30:09] ONE action for a dream chaser [31:09] Get to know Scott better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Scott’s Facebook Scott’s Twitter Scott’s LinkedIn Scott’s  Website BOOK: Be the Hero of Your Life: Ditch the Excuses, Take Your Hero's Journey, and Find Your Life's Purpose by J. Scott MacMillan Watch the Episode on YouTube Find the new podcast, Your Personal Hype Man with Aimee J, at www.yourpersonalhypeman.com    TWEETS YOU CAN USE: We’ve all had to become a hero to fight through issues in our lives. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams Every person’s life is a hero’s journey. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams Goal-setting becomes easy when limiting beliefs are out of the way. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams Most often, the thing that sabotages us is a limiting belief we formed in childhood. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams You can rewire your brain for success. @jscottmacmillan #chasingdreams

If you’re a regular listener, then you know that mental health is a very important topic to me. Mindfulness is something we can all learn to practice to help deal with the stress of life. I saw today’s guest on a TED talk, and I knew I had to bring her to the show. A self-described “brain geek,” Dr. Kristen Race has spent the last 12 years exploring the nexus between mindfulness and neuroscience. She is the author of Mindful Parenting, the founder of Mindful Life, and Head of Mindfulness at Solvasa, a pioneer in integrative beauty. Dr. Race has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, CNN, and many more. She’s taught her mindfulness methods to over 50,000 worldwide leaders, including Sheryl Sandberg and Sara Blakely.  The accidental entrepreneur What did you want to be when you were young? The truth is that most of us end up being something totally different than those original dreams. Young Kristen wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist, and it didn’t matter to her what sport it would be. Later, she wanted to be a teacher, mainly because of some inspiring and impactful teachers she had. Kristen started her career as a teacher before her path took some interesting twists and turns. From teaching, she moved into mindfulness, which was a natural flow for Kristen. She was drawn to struggling students and wanted to develop helpful tools for them, so she got a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, and then went on to obtain a doctorate in Child, Family, and School Psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience. Working as an intern in both a high-risk, high-need school and a wealthy independent school allowed her to see incredible levels of stress and anxiety in students. A personal autoimmune disease crisis led Kristen to try mindfulness tools with students, so she formalized a curriculum and began training teachers and parents before she moved on to the world of corporate training.  TWEET: Most of us end up being something totally different than our original dreams. @DrKristenRace #chasingdreams Why trying--and failing--are good for kids Do you like to fail? None of us enjoy the feeling of failure, but it’s necessary for us to experience growth and learning. When we put too much structure on our kids, we don’t allow them to try new things. Part of learning includes taking risks, failing, and getting back up again. It’s the getting back up again that builds resilience. Kids need to have room to negotiate difficult social situations. We can help kids with the stress response in their brains to stress by teaching them to solve problems, control behaviors, think positively, and engage with others. Kristen explains her PBR method for handling stress triggers.  TWEET: Failure is necessary for us to experience growth and learning. @DrKristenRace #chasingdreams Take care of yourself How well do you take care of yourself? Do you feel the need to respond immediately to every single email? Do you feel pressure on the weekends or on days off to be available for work 24/7? If you can’t pull back and give yourself time away from work, then you are adding unnecessary stress to your life. Some organizations realize this, and they are mandating “no email Saturdays” to guard against stressing out their employees. Employers and employees alike need to step up and make clear the expectations on response times; this will help keep people from being stressed out and burned out in their jobs. You can’t sacrifice yourself for any job. Kristen explains how mismanaged stress will take a heavy toll on your health.  TWEET: You can’t sacrifice yourself for any job. @DrKristenRace #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”At the end of each day, think of three good things that happened that day. Share them with someone, or at least write them down. Studies show that forming this habit for two weeks will lead to a significant increase in happiness, a decrease in anxiety and depression, better sleep quality, and better work/life balance.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [:51] Young Kristen’s dreams and the path to entrepreneurship [11:06] Why all these stressed-out students? [14:11] Why kids need to try new things---and fail [17:24] How we can help turn the tide [24:37] How we respond to create better solutions [28:40] You don’t have to respond immediately to every email [31:00] The benefits of gratitude [35:01] Take care of you [37:27] PBR isn’t a “one and done” practice [42:09] ONE action for a dream chaser [47:12] Get to know Kristen better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Dr. Race’s Website Dr. Race’s Facebook Dr. Race’s Twitter  Dr. Race's Instagram Dr. Race’s LinkedIn  https://solvasalife.com/ www.solvasabeauty.com  Today’s show sponsor: Your Personal Hype Man Podcast   Watch the Episode on YouTube   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Kids feel our stress and take it in, but they don’t know how to process it. @DrKristenRace #chasingdreams It became clear to me that the stressed students were products of their stressed-out parents. @DrKristenRace #chasingdreams Students today have very little free time for unstructured play, which is changing the ways their brains develop. @DrKristenRace #chasingdreams

Today’s guest is a friend of the family, and her dad and brother have both been on previous shows. In Women’s History Month, she’s another amazing woman doing amazing things in the world. She’s part of a new generation paving the way for other young women coming along----and she’s doing all this at the tender age of 18.  Aniya Wolfe, striding onto sets as “Wolfe,” began 2020 by launching Ivy Sky Pictures, her second production company that aims to produce films, demonstrations, photoshoots, and music videos that spotlight the souls of artists and companies. At just 18 years of age, Wolfe has identified her love of expressing and inspiring while experiencing a spectrum of emotions at being present in today’s world and channeling it through art.  Finding inspiration Where do you find inspiration? Wolfe was a huge fan of Hannah Montana, wanting her life to be “the best of both worlds.” Her family was supportive of her acting aspirations, so she plunged into her first commercial. What Wolfe discovered was that she was more intrigued by what went on behind the scenes than what happened in front of the camera. Her entire family left their Philadelphia lives behind and moved to California in pursuit of their acting and directing dreams. Wolfe explains how her first community, her family, helped her become rooted and grounded in community--a philosophy that she clings to today.  TWEET: Wolfe’s family helped her become rooted and grounded in community. @directorwolfe #chasingdreams Figuring it out Did you figure out who you were by age 18? Wolfe spent time figuring out who she is as an artist and how to identify as an artist. Her learning came about through trial and error---and a lot of experimentation. Settling on the art form she wants to create, she says that experimentation and nurturing the artist are key components. She calls Ivy Sky Pictures “the next step: in her evolution as an artist.  TWEET: Learning comes through trial and error. And a lot of experimentation! @directorwolfe #chasingdreams Passion and sacrifice How much sacrifice are you willing to make for your passion? In her middle school years, Wolfe knew the direction she wanted to go and felt the passion for pursuing her dreams. She graduated from high school early so she could move up to what she wanted to accomplish in the world. It wasn’t easy. It took sacrifice to succeed in school in the daytime and edit her pet video projects in the evenings. Wolfe never resented the work or the sacrifice, though, because she was living out her passion. She says that women usually find a way to make the dream work, but it’s important to take care of yourself during the work and sacrifice.  TWEET: It’s important to take care of yourself during the work and sacrifice. @directorwolfe #chasingdreams OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [1:03] Young Wolfe’s dreams [2:23] Inspired and intrigued by Hannah Montana [4;23] A supportive community [6:28] Wolfe’s production company [7:46] Wolfe’s speaking opportunities [9:46] The new launch of Wolfe’s “2nd baby” [11:38] Wolfe’s favorite role so far [13:45] Hearing voices and seeing signs [17:31] A favorite part of the process [19:29] Finding her tribe [20:45] Starting out part-time [23:06] Women directors who have inspired Wolfe [27:42] What 2020 looks like [30:09] Why Wolfe wants to try virtual reality next [32:30] Get to know Wolfe better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Wolfe's  Twitter Wolfe's Instagram Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: A NO gives YES its value.  @directorwolfe #chasingdreams You can pursue your passion on a part-time basis. @directorwolfe #chasingdreams I’m still figuring out who I am as an artist. @directorwolfe #chasingdreams Regardless of our age, our passion and dreams are valid. @directorwolfe #chasingdreams

We’re kicking off March, Women’s History Month, with two amazing women. They followed their passion and created an innovative podcast around the question, “What would you do right now if you had $10,000?” Alison Burns and Lulu Picart host the comedy podcast, 10K Dollar Day, which can be described as imaginary luxury travel comedy. They also coach students of all ages at Find Your Light Coaching. Lulu is an actor, director, writer, singer, and doggy mom. Alison is a comedian, actress, singer, lyricist, choreographer, wife, and mom. She’s an award-winning musical theatre performer and a huge Gordon Ramsey fan.  Not the same old podcast If you started a podcast, what would it be? When Alison and Lulu lived together outside NYC and worked in the theatre industry, they occupied themselves on the long commute by fantasizing about living in the lap of luxury. This pastime became the basis for their podcast that’s crammed full of comedy and improvisation. They research each place they “visit,” picking them independently, never knowing where the other person is “going.” Then they spend the podcast revealing the ways they would spend $10K in one day of imaginary luxury travel. They love finding odd places and dreaming of crazy luxury items that most people could never afford. The podcast also includes discussions of their latest obsessions, along with their giveaway to highlight specific charities. The podcast is creative, positive, imaginative, and is full of fun, laughter, and friendship. Give it a try! TWEET: The 10K Dollar Day Podcast is crammed full of comedy and improvisation. @LuLuPicart @_alisonburns #chasingdreams Pursuing opportunities Many women feel like being a wife and mother is all there is to life, like, who could ever find time to do more? These two girls are careful not to put limits on their dreams, even though they are polar opposites when it comes to manifesting their dreams and visions in putting them “out there.” Most women are afraid that they will be called selfish if they do what makes them happy. Alison and Lulu are both passionate about making sure the opportunities they pursue are things that sustain them.  TWEET: Don’t put limits on your dreams! @LuLuPicart @_alisonburns #chasingdreams Passing it on Are you good at passing on your knowledge and expertise? Alison and Lulu love the coaching opportunities they have with students aged 6-60’s in several Broadway shows and tours. Although some of their students are professional actors pursuing their careers, they work with many young kids and not-so-young adults who are wanting to try new things and learn new skills. Some of their young students are trying new things as they try to find their passion in life. Just getting on a stage in front of an audience helps build confidence that helps open new doors in every area of life.  TWEET: Being in front of an audience helps build confidence and brings new opportunities in life. @LuLuPicart @_alisonburns #chasingdreams OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:12] How Alison and Lulu first met [2:33] How the podcast idea was born [11:03] Their obsessions, charities, and desire for fun [14:34] The positive journey that podcast listeners can join [15:47] Other endeavors for Alison and Lulu [18:43] Polar opposites in many ways [21:45] Advice to others who need to redefine themselves [24:57] Deciding what’s next [29:30] The coaching business [34:05] When people doubt themselves [38:28] Get to know Alison and Lulu better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Lulu’s Facebook Lulu’s Twitter Lulu’s Instagram Lulu’s Linkedin Alison’s Facebook Alison’s Twitter Alison’s Instagram 10K Dollar Day Podcast 10K Dollar Day - YouTube Watch This Episode On YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: We want people to leave each episode having fun and laughing. @LuLuPicart @_alisonburns #chasingdreams We wanted to be consistent creators of something together on a regular schedule, like a podcast. @LuLuPicart @_alisonburns #chasingdreams Ultimately, it’s your life. It’s OK to be a little selfish. @LuLuPicart @_alisonburns #chasingdreams

Sometimes a kid can be the best example of a dream chaser. This is certainly true of my guest today. His family epitomizes what it means to chase your dreams, as each one of them works hard to pursue their passions. I think you’ll find today’s interview refreshing and inspiring. Travis Wolfe, Jr. is a 13-year-old actor, hip hop and breakdancer, and host. After booking his very first audition for a 6ABC News promo, Travis knew he was destined to be an actor. Within five years, Travis landed the role of “Dele” in the CBS series Bob Hearts Abishola, and he’s been featured in shows like Grownish, The Neighborhood, and Laff Mob’s Laff Tracks. He also has a recurring role on Season 3 of Raven’s Home as “Lil Lo Lo.” Besides acting and dancing, Travis uses motivational speaking to encourage other young people to follow their dreams and pursue their passions. What it takes to succeed as an actor What do you think it takes to succeed as an actor? It’s not as easy as walking into your first audition and riding the easy train to sudden stardom. Travis says that most people don’t realize what a kid goes through in their journey to become a child actor. Putting a show together takes a lot of preparation and dedication from many people besides just the actors. Travis makes many sacrifices for his acting career, but he says it doesn’t feel like a job since he loves what he does. Besides his acting work on the Warner Brothers set, he has several hours of schoolwork to do every day.  TWEET: Most people don’t realize what a kid goes through in their journey to become a child actor. @traviswolfejr #chasingdreams Learning from each experience Do you think most actors experience overnight success? Travis says that it rarely happens that way in the acting profession. He started off doing small parts in commercials and student films, and this path seems to be a normal rite of passage for most actors. Each role is another level to help you get the feel of what goes into the production process. Many actors have stories like Travis---of working hard to achieve their dreams. An interesting fact about Travis’ dreams is that he’d love to be a stand-up comedian someday.  TWEET: Each role is another level to help you get the feel of what goes into the production process. @traviswolfejr #chasingdreams What Travis enjoys the most about acting What do you think is the best thing about acting? You might think it’s the paycheck, but that’s not what Travis says. What he loves most is the opportunity to interact with other people and form relationships with them. Actors don’t just arrive on the set and act in their scenes. Travis explains that he spends time connecting with other actors to make the relationships seem real. He loves to find friends and mentors in his set family at each project. As far as future writing or directing, Travis follows the advice given to him by Mario Van Peebles, who told him to learn to be his own boss. This means learning to write, direct, and produce so that he can work for himself and have more control over his career.  TWEET: Learn to be your own boss. @traviswolfejr #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Keep going. There will always be people who tell you that you can’t do it. Stay faithful, and you’ll get there.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:44] The role of Travis’ parents in supporting his endeavors [4:43] Cultivating “Dele’s” Nigerian accent [6:32] What it takes to be a child actor [8:55] The evolution of roles [10:25] Is there something else for Travis? [11:59] People who inspire Travis [14:59] The grind never stops [15:58] The best part of acting [17:20] Directing and writing possibilities in the future [17:56] Travis’ sister, a director, and his supportive family [19:22] How Travis’ family keeps him humble [20:37] Moving from one coast to another [22:20] An upcoming surprise [22:39] Travis’ bucket list [25:12] What Travis would do if he couldn’t act [26:58] Bringing his personality into characters [30:25] A downside to Hollywood? [32:05] Get to know Travis better [36:28] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Travis’ Facebook Travis’ Twitter  Travis’ Instagram  Travis’ Website   Watch The Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: There are positives to being an actor, but you have to watch the people you hang around. @traviswolfejr #chasingdreams Acting takes sacrifice, but if you love it, then it doesn’t feel like a job. @traviswolfejr #chasingdreams I’d love to branch out and become a stand-up comedian someday. @traviswolfejr #chasingdreams

As we kick off Black History Month, I couldn’t find a better dream chaser with whom to start than today’s guest. Listen and be inspired by the story of her dream-chase to find passion, purpose, joy, and fulfillment in leaving corporate America behind and leaping into the entrepreneurial life.  Teneshia Warner is the founder and CEO of Egami Group, one of the country’s most successful multicultural marketing and communication firms and creator of The Dream Project. Through The Dream Project, Teneshia has spoken to more than 150,000 dreamers across the nation and brought together nearly 200 leading business moguls and celebrities. Her book, The Big Stretch: 90 Days to Expand Your Dreams, Crush Your Goals, and Create Your Own Success (McGraw-Hill Education, November 22, 2019), is a soul-searching, life-transforming, twelve-week, boot camp that reveals how to get from where you are to where you dream of being---in life and business.  Listening to the signals Do you get internal signals when it’s time to move on to something new? Do you pay attention to them? Teneshia was a computer science major in college, and then she went on to be a project manager at IBM. She was busy climbing the corporate ladder, and her life looked perfect from the outside, but she felt signals telling her that something wasn’t right. She ignored the signals but kept facing each workday with dread, especially every Monday. This went on for years and years until her parents challenged her to DO something about her situation besides complaining about it. At this point, Teneshia became open to other options. She went back to school to pursue her MBA. An assignment there to analyze life decisions turned out to be exactly what she needed to take the next steps and move forward with purpose and passion.  TWEET: Don’t ignore the signals that tell you something isn’t right. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams From the inside out What brings you joy? This was the first question Teneshia needed to answer in her transition. Through simple self-awareness, she listed the things that interested her, the skills she possessed, and the things that brought her joy in life. Her list included creativity, entertainment, music, and fashion. Once she had the list, she began researching careers that were tied to her areas of interest. She wanted to transition into the music and entertainment industry, but she had no connection and no way to get her foot in the door. Teneshia decided that volunteering would be her way to learn. The end result of that endeavor is that she went from unpaid intern to general manager of the company in exactly one year. TWEET: Teneshia made a list of what brought her joy and researched careers tied to her interests. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams Making the leap How attached are you to your comfort zone? Teneshia knew she needed to leave the comfort of her home and family in Minnesota, so she moved to NYC without knowing anyone there. She downsized to a studio apartment so small that she “could open the front door from the shower.” She gave herself a timeline of one year to “make it,” which kicked her into a new level of urgency. Even though she wasn’t sure how things would happen, she had a plan laid out. Her success is an example of putting in the work. Now she has a new book and a new company to show for it. Egami Group, an award-winning multicultural firm based in NYC, was the result of Teneshia’s staying on the path to passion and purpose. Her book, The Big Stretch, is about getting in touch with your dreams, goals, and success.  TWEET: Teneshia’s book, The Big Stretch, is about getting in touch with your dreams, goals, and success. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Say YES to the stretch. The one universal truth of every dreamer is a calling that tells you there is more.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:46] Young Teneshia’s dreams [7:18] How Teneshia finally focused on herself [8:31] The signals that something wasn’t right [12:51] Designing a life around earning potential [14:24] Taking the leap in following purpose and passion [18:15] Volunteering to get her foot in the door [24:32] Putting the work ahead of the money [28:06] Making the move to NYC [32:02] Teneshia’s book and new company [38:56] Beyond what Teneshia ever imagined [42:06] Not the destination, but the journey [49:36] Get to know Teneshia better [59:17] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Teneshia’s Website   Teneshia’s Facebook Teneshia’s Twitter Teneshia’s Instagram Teneshia’s LinkedIn   Watch The Episode On YouTube The Big Stretch: 90 Days to Expand Your Dreams, Crush Your Goals, and Create Your Own Success by Teneshia Jackson Warner TWEETS YOU CAN USE: You won’t chase a dream within the zip code of your comfort zone. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams The future for me was to be a highly-paid, unhappy individual. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams I thought the solution to my unhappy job situation was simply to make more money. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams I decided to design my life around earning potential. @teneshiajwarner #chasingdreams

I hope your 2020 is off to a great start! This is a great time to talk about tips for the new year regarding a vitally important concept: your mindset. Having a positive mindset and exercising optimistic determination are key elements in chasing your dream. We’re jumping into these topics and more with today’s inspirational guest.  Jacquelynn Peterson is a 20-year corporate veteran who has turned into a joy and purpose advocate. She knows just how exhausting and painful it is to live someone else’s dream and slave away at work that doesn’t excite you while not knowing where your life is really headed. As a child of Vietnamese immigrant parents, getting good grades, going to college, and getting a good job was her prescription for success. With that in mind, Jacquelynn climbed the corporate ladder for 20 years, from entry-level to six-figure positions. Even at the height of her career, she still wasn’t fulfilled or excited about the direction of her life. A miraculous turn occurred when she defied all logic to find clarity on her life vision while at rock bottom. She went from drifting aimlessly through her life and career, incurring $150K+ in debt, and enduring a struggling marriage to achieving financial freedom, a strong marriage, and finding a way to do what she loves. Now she’s helping others find clarity on their life vision so they can start living the life they are meant to live with purpose, joy, and direction.  A focus on mindset What events have happened to focus attention on your mindset? For most people, going through difficult times and personal struggles are the impetus to turn their mindset around. In Jacquelynn’s case, it was an accumulation of personal life experiences that turned her focus inward. She came from a divorced family and was the only girl among six children of her Asian-immigrant father who always worked multiple jobs. As she was left home with her stepmother and brothers, Jacquelynn figured out how life worked and how she could use self-talk to get through rough days. Through TV shows, she observed life and learned how to interact with others. It was this background that spawned her love of human psychology and human behavior. TWEET: You can use self-talk to get through the rough days. #chasingdreams Building positive self-talk How do your thoughts make you feel? Do you ever hear that negative voice telling you that you aren’t good enough and that you’ll never accomplish your dreams? Jacquelynn uses the personal example of launching into a new field in which the “little voice” tells you that your experience is inadequate and that you’ll never succeed. You have to differentiate between facts and your assumptions. Jacquelynn says that if you’re going to make assumptions, then assume things that are positive and will serve you well in positive ways. It takes intentional practice to exercise your mind to gravitate toward positive thoughts about yourself.  TWEET: You have to differentiate between facts and your assumptions. #chasingdreams Defying logic When have you defied human logic in your life? Jacquelynn found herself without a job and in massive debt, but she still didn’t let those factors stop her from moving into her dreams. She kept thinking about what she wanted to do with excitement and enthusiasm, and she knew that these consistent great feelings about her dreams would eventually lead to something wonderful. With meditation and visualization, Jacquelynn focused on clarifying and defining the vision of her dream business. It wasn’t long before magical things fell into her lap and inspired her to take action. TWEET: Focus on clarifying and defining the vision of your dream business. #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Take the time to find clarity on your vision and the ideal life for YOU.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [:45] Young Jacquelynn’s dreams [2:42] Why Jacquelynn became focused on mindset [6:09] What is self-talk? [7:46] How we fight negative self-talk [13:49] The jump from finance to mindset [18:33] Acting on the revelation [21:16] The key is to just relax [24:16] The power in changing your perspective [27:17] Recommendations to chase your dream [32:06] Use your authentic vision [33:06] Get to know Jacquelynn better [37:32] ONE action for a dream chaser RESOURCES MENTIONED: Jacquelynn's Website Jacquelynn’s Facebook Jacquelynn’s LinkedIn Watch the Episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Over time and with practice, the negative voice will be drowned out by the positive. #chasingdreams Self-talk goes on all the time, and many people aren’t even aware of it. #chasingdreams I had to figure out how life worked on my own. #chasingdreams

Thank you for kicking off the New Year with us! You know there is nothing closer to my heart than the story of someone not only dreaming big but finding ways to chase those dreams. Such is the story of today’s guest. Join us for more! Marc Megna is co-owner of Anatomy Fitness gym and a top strength and conditioning coach in Miami, helping hundreds of clients--from celebrities and professional athletes to motivated beginners--achieve their fitness goals. Adhering to the “Dream big, never quit” motto that Marc learned from his mother, he put in years of hard work and unrelenting dedication to transform his life. After playing football and earning a degree in sociology at the University of Richmond, Marc was drafted by the New York Jets in 1999. During his seven-year professional football career, he played for the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and Montreal Alouettes.  Now an elite trainer and fitness model, Marc has written for such publications as Fitness RX and Dr. Oz. He’s been featured on the cover of Inside Fitness and Muscle & Fitness magazines. You can listen to his motivating Megna Method podcast and visit www.megnamethod.com. Sports as a coping mechanism How do you cope with life’s problems? Marc learned early on that sports were his coping mechanism for dealing with a difficult childhood. He was a shy, insecure, fat kid, but sports were a big deal in his family. Since he figured out that athletes gained the respect of others, that’s what Marc aspired to become. Being a top athlete became his mission as a young kid, and he was determined to work harder than anyone else. His perseverance paid off, and he made it to the NFL. Now, with a profession built on sports and fitness, Marc can impact others’ lives with his talents.  TWEET: Being a top athlete became Marc’s mission as a young kid, and his perseverance paid off. @marcmegna #chasingdreams The end of a football career How do you know when it’s time to move on? Even though Marc loved his time in the NFL, it was pretty clear to him that he needed to try something else after a series of injuries. He sustained a severe knee injury and infection that almost cost him his leg, and since his knee was compromised, his body was out of alignment. This led to a serious tear in his back, and he knew his football career was over. Marc learned that a significant time commitment is required in anything in which you wish to succeed, and he knew that football coaching was not the route he wanted to take. His current career as a gym co-owner and fitness coach takes a lot of his time, but he genuinely enjoys the time he spends investing in others.  TWEET: After a series of injuries, Marc knew he needed to try something else, and football coaching was not the route he wanted to take. @marcmegna #chasingdreams Don’t get stuck! How do you “show up”? Marc explains that it’s great to show up every day, but what you do when you’re there is important. Doing the same thing over and over again will not yield a different result. Most people are deathly afraid of getting outside their comfort zone. When what you do each day is a drudgery that you hate, then you’re probably stuck in your comfort zone. Do what it takes to get unstuck! TWEET: Do what it takes to get unstuck! @marcmegna #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Decide what’s most important to you and take steps to do what you want to do.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:16] Young Marc’s dreams [4:22] Finding a coping mechanism [6:14] Holding on to the dream [10:31] Becoming a better person [14:19] From professional athlete to the next step [17:23] A labor of love [18:59] The road to Anatomy Fitness [25:11] Why you have to show up and do the work [26:56] How to tell if you’re stuck in your comfort zone [30:01] Marc’s book [32:36] Why Marc is happy right now [33:31] ONE action for a dream chaser [34:48] Get to know Marc better RESOURCES MENTIONED: Marc on Facebook Mark on Twitter Marc on Instagram Marc’s Website  "Dream Big, Never Quit" by Marc Megna on Amazon Watch the episode on YouTube TWEETS YOU CAN USE: Now, instead of asking how I can be better at something, I ask myself how I can be a better person. @marcmegna #chasingdreams Athletic training helped my insecurity, made me stronger, and increased my confidence. @marcmegna #chasingdreams I started with dreams of being an athlete and an annoyingly obsessive mentality of showing up. @marcmegna #chasingdreams

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I’m excited about 2020, and I have confidence and good feelings that it will be the Year of Awesome for me---and I hope for you, too! In today’s solo episode by me, I’m sharing Ten Lessons I’ve learned from my past. I hope you’ll listen and take action as we count them down from ten.  10. You can’t do it alone. You need a coach or mentor or someone to help you. I share personal experiences I’ve had with taking online courses, of which some are great, and some, not so much. The ones that include a coaching component are the most helpful. Find someone who will coach and guide you on your journey. TWEET: Find someone to guide you on your journey. #chasingdreams 9. It’s the journey, not the goal. Work toward your dreams, even if you don’t achieve them. The journey to the goal should be joyful and invigorating. Enjoy the journey with all the highs, the lows, and each experience of your adventure. TWEET: Enjoy the journey! #chasingdreams 8. Allow yourself the grace to make mistakes and keep moving. We are our worst critics and worst enemies. We hold ourselves back because we don’t allow our mistakes to happen, and we don’t offer ourselves forgiveness. We feel like we have to punish ourselves for our mistakes. Don’t let your mistake last longer than it needs to. TWEET: Allow yourself the grace to make mistakes. #chasingdreams 7. Find opportunities for yourself along the way. Humble yourself and find the power and value of volunteering or being an intern. Take a chance. You never know what will happen in your story. Don’t stay in the box. Get a shovel and make your own path. Listen to the inspiring story of my podcast producer, Ruth, in Kenya. TWEET: Be humble. #chasingdreams 6. Embrace your fears. This is my new motto for 2020. Fear is what holds most people back from chasing their dreams. What are you afraid of? Make a list. Do your research and figure out how to overcome those fears. If you don’t know how, please message me and let me help. TWEET: Embrace your fears and overcome them.  #chasingdreams 5. Be happy. Life is too short for anything else! You can’t be happy 24/7, but there can be more ups than downs. Spend time with your loved ones. Go on adventures. Do what makes YOU happy, not what makes other people happy. TWEET: Do what makes YOU happy. #chasingdreams 4. What are you waiting for? Don’t follow society’s rules for what everyone else thinks you should do. Don’t let anyone tell you what the deadline is for marriage, having kids, a certain job, or a vacation. Don’t wait! You never know what life will throw at you. TWEET: Don’t wait. #chasingdreams 3. Take care of your mental health. I found myself anxious, stressed, and depressed after a car accident earlier this year. I saw a therapist who helped me talk through what I was feeling and why. It is vitally important to advocate for your mental health. TWEET: Be your own mental health advocate. #chasingdreams 2. Make your own choices. This has been a struggle for me, and it’s a lesson that took a while for me to learn. This is YOUR life, so don’t let other people pressure you to make certain choices. I was 28 years old when I made the first decision for myself about my education and my career. TWEET: This is YOUR life. #chasingdreams 1. Do random acts of kindness. Look for ways to do things that make other people happy without looking for recognition. There is great power in living this way. TWEET: Do random acts of kindness. #chasingdreams 0. My theme for 2020: I am enough. There are things I want to do to improve myself, but I am enough right now.  TWEET: I am enough. #chasingdreams OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE: [2:25] Ten Lessons [4:03] You can’t do it alone [10:07] It’s the journey, not the goal [14:26] Allow your mistakes and keep moving [16:28] Find opportunities along the way [22:15] Embrace your fears [26:08] Be happy [27:40] What are you waiting for? [33:31] Take care of your mental health [38:41] Make your own choices [44:58] Random acts of kindness [48:00] I am enough RESOURCES MENTIONED Aimee J.’s Facebook Aimee J.’s Twitter Aimee J.’s Instagram Aimee J.’s LinkedIn Aimee J.’s Website Watch the episode on YouTube   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: If there is no path for what you want to do, then create the path yourself. #chasingdreams You have to find what fits and works for you. #chasingdreams Don’t focus on the goal so much that you neglect other areas of life. #chasingdreams Life is too short for you to be anything but happy. #chasingdreams